The driver of a car which struck and killed a 72-year-old pedestrian while he waited at a bus stop in The Ponds has appeared in court — as the State Government has revealed it has no plans to install a speed camera along the dangerous road to slow drivers down.
Two pedestrians have been hit and killed on Stanhope Parkway in the past 12 months which has seen police charge both drivers.
A 72-year-old man from The Ponds was waiting with his wife at a bus stop on Stanhope Parkway, opposite Owl Park, during the afternoon of Friday, March 29.
An out-of-control car allegedly mounted the gutter, hit a pole and subsequently hit the man who died in hospital a week later.
The driver of the car, Sherin Hyderi, 47, from The Ponds, appeared at Blacktown Local Court on Monday charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and negligent driving. Her case was adjourned until June.
Less than a year ago, Stanhope Gardens man Clarrie Challis, 65, was killed after being hit by a car while crossing the road on July 16, 2018 near Majestic Dr.
His partner was also struck and was badly injured.
The driver of the car, a 19-year-old man, has since been charged by police with dangerous driving causing death as well as three other charges. His case is currently before the court.
Police have not said whether speeding was a factor in either incident.
The two incidents happened about 1.5km away from each other along the notorious road.
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SAFETY MEASURES ON STANHOPE PARKWAY
Transport for NSW has received nominations from the public to install a speed camera near the sites of both fatal crashes on Stanhope Parkway.
However, there are currently no plans to install a speed camera on the road.
“Transport for NSW determines locations for speed cameras based on crash history, information from NSW Police in addition to community nominations made on our Safer Roads website,” Bernard Carlon, the Centre for Road Safety chief executive, said.
“The underlying principle is that they are installed in locations where they are most likely to have an impact by reducing crashes and casualties.”
A Blacktown Council spokesman said the current 60km/h speed limit was considered appropriate but compliance was an issue.
He said if any changes were to be made to the speed limit it would have to go through Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
“Poor compliance with the speed limit is considered to be the main problem rather than the speed limit itself,” a council spokesman said.
“The current 60km/h speed limit is considered appropriate by the RMS for Stanhope Parkway as it carries almost 20,000 vehicles each day, including large trucks.”
He added council had made improvements to signage along Stanhope Parkway following the pedestrian fatality on July 2018.
“Council installed additional give way signs at the roundabouts at Majestic Drive and at Perfection Avenue and reinstalled some missing give way signs,” he said.
“The additional signs improve driver compliance and make it less likely that a truck would obscure visibility of the signs. Council referred a missing speed limit sign to RMS to replace.”
FOOT BRIDGE TURNED DOWN
A Stanhope Gardens resident Mackaela Komene, 11, wrote to Blacktown Council late last year asking for a pedestrian bridge to be installed along the road, near the intersection with Perfection Ave.
Blacktown Council said they had investigated the idea but had found it was not viable considering the low number of pedestrians.
“Miss Komene suggested the construction of a bridge … but the number of pedestrians does not meet the criteria by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to allow the installation of those suggestions,” a council statement said.
A council spokesman said pedestrian traffic lights were also unlikely to get the green light, near the fatal crash site where Mr Challis died in July 2018.
IN OTHER NEWS
Council proposed the idea to the RMS last year.
“Council has undertaken pedestrian and traffic counts to assess the location for traffic lights. “There were few pedestrians crossing the road and the location does not meet Roads and Maritime Services minimum requirements for traffic lights [at that location].
“Council has also undertaken additional more detailed pedestrian counts and the outcome is expected to be reported to the May meeting of Blacktown City’s Local Traffic Committee.”
Stanhope Parkway is about 4km long and connects Stanhope Gardens with Schofields.
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