Pedestrian Council chairman Harold Scruby defends use of app that notifies councils of illegal parking

HAROLD Scruby was labelled ‘un-Australian’ last week after he was spotted using a so-called ‘dobbing’ app. Today, he responds.

Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby.

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Last week I tested a new app called SnapSendSolve. I took photos of 10 illegally parked vehicles in one street in Mosman, all of which were “Public Safety” offences to see if it worked.

One result was that I was described as “un-Australian” in the Mosman Daily, the implication being that it is Australian to turn a blind eye to dangerous parking offences.

Last week’s Mosman Daily story.

I don’t and will continue to report dangerous parking whenever time and resources permit — without apology and for good reasons. Consider these:

● In 2010 the Auditor-General, in his Schoolzone performance audit, found “ … illegal and unsafe parking can be routinely observed in many school zones. Most councils do little or no enforcement of parking restrictions in NSW school zones.”

The SnapSendSolve app has been available since 2010.

● In 2015/16, Mosman Council Rangers issued over 10,000 tickets for Parking Meter and Time Zone (non-safety related) offences — and only 125 for Schoolzone (safety related) offences.

● 45 pedestrians have died this year and deaths are up 80 per cent on the three year average.

● In 1999, the NSW Auditor-General’s study into parking enforcement discovered mismanagement, appalling work-practices, poor accountability, perfunctory behaviour and no performance measurement.

Seventeen years later, nothing has changed except the revenue-raising and the date.

While they can spot an expired meter from Mars, many Rangers find it almost impossible see a B-double parked across a school crossing, especially if its hazard lights are flashing, or there’s at least one orange witch’s hat within cooee. It’s enough to make Stevie Wonder blush.

This week, for the seventh year in a row, I will be a guest speaker at the NSW Rangers’ Conference. The subject is Schoolzone Enforcement.

I will tell it straight. To do anything else would be un-Australian.

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