Arncliffe residents call for M5 East Tunnel truck mandate amid toll avoidance on Forest Rd, Stoney Creek Rd

Sydney parents are scared to let their kids walk to school amid a rise in the number of trucks ‘rat running’ through suburbs to avoid paying tolls, with one mother warning tragic accidents are ‘only a matter of time’.

Southern Sydney parents are afraid to let their kids walk to school out of fear the number of trucks ‘rat running’ through suburban streets and school zones will end in tragedy.

Arncliffe residents have called on the Minns Government to mandate toll usage on the M5 East Tunnel to stop trucks dodging the highway in favour of shortcuts along Forest Rd and Stoney Creek Rd – an area home to more than 15 primary and secondary schools.

Local mum Marrian Rede, 24, said the recent death of teacher Eleanor Bryant, who was killed when a truck crashed into a Victorian preschool earlier this month, was a “wakeup call we can’t afford to ignore”.

“I’ve seen how dangerous our streets have become because of heavy trucks avoiding the tolls on the M5 East Tunnel,” Ms Rede said.

“I’ve spoken to other parents in the area and although their kids are at an age when they can walk to school, they simply don’t let them because these trucks are just speeding through these areas, especially around school time.

Arncliffe parents are scared to let the kids walk alone to school. Picture: Andrew Lee

Eleanor Bryant was killed when a truck crashed into Montessori Macedon Ranges Preschool at Main Rd, Riddells Creek in Victoria.

Ms Bryant pushed students out of the way to protect them from the truck. Picture: Nine News

“(Ms Bryant’s death) made me realise we need to act now to prevent something similar happening here … (Because) it’s only a matter of time until something happens.”

Following similar traffic pressures in Northern Sydney, the NSW government successfully mandated truck use of the NorthConnex in 2021 with heavy penalties in place for drivers who avoid the toll route in favour of Pennant Hills Rd.

Ms Rede launched a petition calling for same mandate to apply to the M5 East to prevent trucks from using narrow residential streets as an “undeclared highway”.

Number of schools along Forest Rd, Arncliffe

Number of schools along nearby Stoney Creek Rd.

“Our children’s safety should be a top priority with all these schools that are along these truck-heavy routes,” Ms Rede said.

“But this issue reflects a larger problem with Sydney’s tolling system, so while we are pushing for trucks to stay on the highways, I think we also need to look at the (bigger picture).

“The current tolling system that we have in place is simply not working. It creates financial pressures and leads to unsafe behaviours like toll avoidance … and I think the NSW Government needs to review its toll policies.”

According to Sydney toll operator Linkt Transurban, the maximum toll price for trucks on the M5 East tipped $25.40 one-way as of January 1 2024.

The TWU said truck drivers are being backed into ‘rat running’ due to high toll prices. Picture: John Appleyard

Transport Workers Union NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen said rising toll prices had backed drivers into neighbourhood areas.

“Drivers are being forced to engage in this type of behaviour because of Transurban’s exploitative pursuits of profit, with massive toll expenses placing undue financial strain on transport workers and the broader industry,” Mr Olsen said.

“Heavy vehicle operators are already dealing with rising fuel costs, maintenance expenses and tight profit margins. They are left with no choice but to seek cost-saving alternatives in the absence of fair toll policies.”

Mr Olsen vowed the union would continue its push for toll relief, however, a Transport for NSW spokesperson said financial incentives were already available for trucks on the M5 East and M8 through the Truck Multiplier rebate trial.

“The two-year trial reduces tolls by a third to encourage heavy vehicles to stay inside the motorway network rather than on suburban streets,” the spokesperson said.

“At the same time, the Government is progressing tolling reform to create a simpler, fairer system, including for heavy vehicles.”

A Transurban spokesperson said drivers using the M5 East on an average work day, travelling eastbound in the morning peak and westbound in the afternoon peak, can save up to 32 minutes on their trip.

“Our road network provides significant benefits for heavy vehicles in terms of increased safety, reduced fuel consumption, greater travel-time reliability and less wear and tear on vehicles. All of which help contribute to overall operational cost savings,” the spokesperson said.

“In regard to NorthConnex, we have some encouraging results from our own recent air quality studies on Pennant Hills Road which show that the air quality has improved for residents as the tunnel has removed up to 9,000 trucks a day from local streets.”