Oxenford community backing safe passage for school kids in order to prevent a tragedy
A woman who lost her brother to a tragic accident as he walked to school fears history will repeat itself at a busy Gold Coast road. Here’s why she’s so concerned.
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AFTER losing her brother to an accident on his way to school when he was just 11 years old, Oxenford resident Rachel Green is determined history never repeats itself.
With a community behind her Ms Green, 38 is calling for safe passage for pedestrians along Tamborine-Oxenford Road by Graywillow Blvd, claiming it’s just a matter of time until tragedy strikes.
Ms Green was just four years old when her brother was killed crossing a busy intersection in 1989. Following his tragic death the family lobbied for traffic lights to be installed at the site on Mt Lindsay Hwy at Browns Plains.
“To their credit, they did install them, but there shouldn’t have had to be a tragedy before it happened,” Ms Green said.
“For the sake of a bit of paint on the road and a couple more signs up to make people aware – we shouldn’t have to wait until a tragedy happens here in our community.”
The proposed site along Tamborine-Oxenford Road is near two bus stops, frequently used by primary and secondary students en route to school.
There are currently two pedestrian refuges and one intersection on the road between John Muntz Bridge and Heathwood Drive – a distance of 3.7km.
“My four daughters aged between 8 and 13 have to cross that main road every morning to get the bus and it’s crazy along that road,” Ms Green said.
“There’s families trying to get across to Russell Hinze park where people often feed the geese.
“One sign (alerting motorists to a refuge island) isn’t enough. People won’t read that sign – they’ll look at a crossing.
“I do understand any concern about it banking up traffic – but I would much rather stop than see someone hit.
“It is scary driving into our estate (along the road) sometimes, because people are flying along there. There’s a turning lane but people don’t slow down.
“Kids shouldn’t feel fearful to go and play in the park or on their way to school, they deserve to feel safe.”
Member for Theodore Mark Boothman MP said had contacted the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), asking whether stand alone traffic lights could be erected at the proposed site.
“You’ve got about 20,000 cars that go on that road per day,” Mr Boothman said.
“If someone isn’t paying attention and someone is crossing, they’re just going to get bowled over.
“People will assume they are safe on a pedestrian crossing, but the department now refrain from putting them in simply because people don’t give way.”
A TMR spokesperson told the Bulletin there is currently a “pedestrian refuge crossing” close to the bus stops on the road.
“It connects to and from the bus stop on the southbound side of the road, about 150m from Graywillow Boulevard,” the spokesperson said. “It is signed in both directions.”
The spokesperson told the Bulletin that due to the speed limit of 60km/h a zebra crossing would not be suitable. The speed limit must be 50km/h or less to ensure motorists “have sufficient time to slow down and allow pedestrians to cross safely.”
The spokesperson added the department “will consider installing extra signs to make it clear pedestrians can cross here.”
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