Coburg High School parents, principal fear tragedy is waiting to strike at Murray Rd in Coburg North unless authorities act now
Northern suburbs parents have challenged authorities to send their own children along a “terrifying” road, saying only then will they understand the dangers they face.
North West
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A group of northern suburbs parents are challenging authorities to send their own children along a “terrifying” arterial road — arguing only then will they understand the dangers of the crash-plagued road.
There have been four recorded crashes on Murray Rd in Coburg this year, including one during school drop-off on Wednesday when a car slammed into a pole at the Connolly Ave and Outlook Rd intersection.
On January 9, a car travelling east near Outlook Rd mounted a kerb at speed, narrowly missing poles and wires before ricocheting across the road and coming to a stop facing the opposite direction with blown-out tyres.
Less than two weeks later, on January 22, a car flipped at the Murray Rd and Elizabeth St intersection around 9am.
On March 5 a car ploughed into pedestrian and bike crossing lights near the Coburg Olympic Pool, knocking down the light pole.
Coburg High School parent Michael Jordan said if his teenage children had been standing on the Murray Rd crossing on Wednesday at the time of the crash — where they usually wait — it would have “snuffed out half” of his family “in an instant.”
Mr Jordan said he could not understand why authorities had not taken action to make the road safer for schoolchildren.
“What are they waiting for? Are they waiting for a car to fly into a group of 10 kids?” he said. “It’s really scary to think about it as a parent.”
The 49-year-old challenged traffic engineers to “send their own kids along that footpath” to experience the fear of parents first-hand.
“Just say to (your kids) to walk along the footpath, let your three-year-old push a scooter along that footpath. I think that would focus their attention (to the issues) because it’s scary,” he said.
“Picture this — you’re pushing a pram, teaching another child to ride a bicycle or scooter then you emerge onto this (Murray) road, and suddenly, you’re expecting a child to navigate a perfectly straight line because you’re terrified that if they deviate, there’s nothing between them and all that traffic.”
Coburg North mum Rebekah said the entire community was “struggling to cross” Murray Rd.
“I watch primary school kids walking and even elderly residents using the senior citizens facility struggling to cross the road,” she said.
“There’s a childcare centre at Barry Beckett, and every day, every minute from 7.30 to 9.30am, people are risking their lives just trying to cross — to get to daycare, school, or the senior citizens centre.”
Rebekah — who has lived in the area for more than 10 years — said despite the ongoing crashes there was “no change year after year”.
“I don’t know what it’s going to take for it to change, but it’s got to change. It’s just an accident waiting to happen.”
Coburg High School principal Brent Houghton also said the school was concerned for the safety of students after the latest crashes on Murray Rd.
Mr Houghton said he hoped it wouldn't take a “serious accident” to a pedestrian or bike rider before the authorities act.
Seventy seven per cent of Coburg High School students walk, cycle or use and public transport on Murray Rd.
Mr Houghton said reducing speed limits, road lanes and providing a separated bike lane on Murray Rd — which was heavily used by children even after school hours — would safeguard students.
Safer Walking and Riding for Murray Rd (SWARM) spokeswoman Cate Hall said Coburg North families were “absolutely terrified” following the spate of daylight crashes with parents fearing it would “take a child’s death” before the government acts.
“We’ve consistently said it’s only a matter of time — this is a life and death situation,” she said.
Murray Rd went from two lanes to four lanes in 2011 after the Department of Transport noticed safety concerns with the original line marking as motorists attempted dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.
But in that time, the demographic of the area had changed with more housing developments, and the addition of a child care, childhood centre and high school.
Ms Hall said community frustration had been growing since mid-2022, when VicRoads first conducted a site walk on Murray Rd, yet little had changed aside from some warning signs added for motorists.
“We feel that if the road was reduced back to two lanes and bike lanes were added — it would change the racetrack vibe, which it currently is, and would hopefully change driver behaviour,” she said.
Pascoe Vale state Labor MP Anthony Cianflone said the four crashes on the road this year alone were a “stark reminder” of the need for urgent safety upgrades, particularly for families using the busy route.
Mr Cianflone said authorities should introduce school speed zones during drop-off and pick-up times along the Murray Rd corridor near Coburg High School, Newlands Primary School, Barry Beckett Childcare, and Newlands Senior Citizens Centre.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokeswoman said they were exploring safety upgrades along Murray Rd as part of future network planning.
“We’ll continue to work with Victoria Police and our road safety partners to understand the circumstances of this crash and consider any necessary safety upgrades along Murray Rd,” she said.
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