Mosman councillor Libby Moline lashes students phone habits when crossing the road

A councillor says students glued to mobile phones while walking across the road is creating safety hazards for motorists – stating she ‘sometimes feels like running them over’. Do you agree? Vote in the poll.

Mosman councillor Libby Moline has spoken out about the road awareness of students glued to mobile phones.

A north shore councillor has delivered a scathing assessment of the road awareness of teenage students in Mosman – claiming their fixation on mobile phones is creating safety hazards for local motorists.

Mosman councillor Libby Moline has taken aim at Mosman High School students who she claims are often glued to their phones while crossing busy streets outside the Military Rd campus.

Her comments were made during a council meeting where a majority of councillors supported plans for a new pedestrian zebra crossing outside the school gates.

Ms Moline said there were already four zebra crossings in the area, and the proposal to build a fifth would be “overkill”.

“This is the most ridiculous suggestion to put this pedestrian crossing when there are already four crossings on Military Rd,” she said. “These kids walk out in front of you – they don’t even look up, they’re young adults who are 13-18 years olds and you’re treating them like babies. It’s helicoptering.

Ms Moline said another pedestrian crossing could slow down traffic near the school.

Mosman Councillor Libby Moline.

“Why can’t they look left and right, then cross the road? “We do not need another pedestrian crossing for these student. Honestly it’s just pathetic.”

Ms Moline said she had concerns the pedestrian crossing could slow traffic down in an area notorious for heavy congestion.

“Why restrict our traffic around Mosman for these kids who for a quarter of an hour in the afternoon stream out of the school gates and walk down Military Rd four-abrest while on their phones nearly knocking everybody over,” she said.

“No wonder the cars can’t go anywhere – they’re stopping for these children who are supposed to be young adults who don’t even look up, and sometimes don’t even acknowledge you when stop at the pedestrian crossing. I feel like running them over sometimes.”

School principal Susan Wyatt – who spoke at the council meeting – said the new crossing on Gladstone Ave would provide safety for the school’s 1100 students.

“We actively encourage students to walk or ride their bikes, however crossing involves dodging traffic that goes along Gladstone Ave,” she said. “As the principal of Mosman High School the number one priority is the safety of students, and by having this crossing at the back of the school would definitely ensure the safety of my students.”

Mosman High principal Susan Wyatt supported the crossing.

A photo showing where the new crossing will be located.

Ms Moline told this publication she believed the crossing could reduce safety by giving students a false sense of security.

“The crossing makes it more dangerous because they seem to think that because a pedestrian crossing is there they can walk out without looking,” she said. “If it wasn’t there they would have to pay attention to their surroundings.

“It’s common sense and I think it’s up to parents to educate their children to get off their mobile phones when they are walking to and from school.”

Student mobile phone use was a key talking point at the council meeting.

The new crossing Gladstone Ave will be funded by the school at no cost to ratepayers.

It is part of a $54m upgrade of the campus which is currently under construction.

Plans show it would also result in the removal of a tree, four carparking spaces and require a bus zone outside the campus to be relocated.

The council’s decision to approve the crossing includes a requirement for a detailed safety assessment before construction.

Speaking at the council meeting, Ms Moline also described local students as “delinquents” but withdrew the comment at the request of Mayor Carolyn Corrigin who said the comment was “inappropriate”.