Parents concerned on speed limits near Mooroopna North Primary School

Parents are “extremely concerned” by fast cars racing past the entrance to a Central Victorian primary school.

Parents in northern Victoria have raised concerns about the speed limits outside their local primary school, citing safety risks for their children.

Steph Anderson, a mother whose child attends Mooroopna North Primary School, initiated a petition to reduce Ardmona Rd limit to 40km/h during school hours.

It has so far garnered 66 signatures.

“Drop off and pick up is extremely concerning,” Ms Anderson said.

She said she started the petition to address a “crucial safety concern that requires immediate attention”.

The current speed limit of the area is 100km/h during non-school hours and 60km/h during school drop off and pick up times.

Steph Anderson, a mother of a student who attends Mooroopna North Primary School, started a petition on that has received over 60 signatures. Picture: Supplied

“Kialla West Primary School have lowered their speed limit to reflect children and families being around the school,” Ms Anderson said.

She added a truck almost caused an accident with one of her family’s vehicles along the same road near the Mooroopna North Primary School.

“There has never been a speed camera at the site — and we are still facing speeding drivers daily going more than 60km/h — which is the ‘school limit’,” she said.

“How come Ardmona Primary School has a 40km school zone and Mooroopna North does not?

“The high volume of traffic, combined with vehicles travelling at such speeds, creates an environment that is fraught with danger and increases the likelihood of accidents occurring.”

She added reducing the speed limit to 40km/h during school hours would create a safer environment for children to walk, cycle and getting dropped off near the school premises.

“Slowing down the traffic will allow drivers to have better reaction times and increase their ability to avoid accidents, should any unexpected circumstances arise,” she said.

“This measure will provide an extra layer of protection for the vulnerable students who frequently cross Ardmona Rd.”

Ms Anderson has contacted the Greater Shepparton City Council, VicRoads, MP Kim O’Keefe and the Shepparton Police Station regarding the issue.

In a response to the issues Ms Anderson put forward to the Shepparton council, senior traffic engineer Brendan Walsh said the locations of all the signs were within the ranges recommended by the guidelines.

“The most obvious discrepancy is that there is only one large sign on each approach — where the guidelines recommend signs on both sides of the road,” Mr Walsh said in his response.

“The condition of the signs also look to be faded to some extent.”

He explained any improvements to the signage would likely be at council’s cost.

“This could happen next financial year, subject to available funds,” he said.

Ms Anderson said Crime Watch Victoria shared a post about a driver going 209km/h just up the road from the Mooroopna north school recently.

The driver was a 30-year-old Merrigum woman who was pulled over by police after she was allegedly clocked speeding 109km/h over the legal limit on Friday June 16.

Shepparton Highway Patrol officers were left “stunned” after discovering the speed the woman was allegedly travelling at — where she overtook them in a 100km/h zone on the Merrigum-Ardmona Rd in Ardmona.

The vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1,240.

The woman will face charges of driving at a dangerous speed, exceed speed limit by 45km/h or more and careless driving and will face the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court at a later date.