Parents push for improved safety measures on Wheelers Hill roads
Concerned parents are pushing for greater safety measures on two roads near Wheelers Hill schools, claiming it’s just a matter of time before someone is killed.
South East
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Concerned parents are pushing for improved safety measures on roads near Wheelers Hill schools, claiming it’s just a matter of time before someone is killed in the wake of a serious crash.
Emergency services were called to Phoenix Drive on Friday after a car ploughed into a tree and flipped on its roof about 3.30pm.
It’s unclear what caused the crash but the driver, a man in his 30s, was taken to The Alfred hospital with upper and lower body injuries.
The incident occurred just metres from a school crossing used by Wheelers Hill Secondary College and Waverley Meadows Primary students.
Catherine Thambirajah heard the crash from her house and rushed to the scene to help with traffic control.
“It was just shocking … just horrific,” she said.
“When I got to the scene I was ‘oh wow’ because I saw the driver’s airbags deployed and his stuff was everywhere on the ground due to the impact.”
Ms Thambirajah said her friend was crossing the road with her two young daughters at the time and could have been hit.
“The particular spot where the driver landed is a 50km/h zone but he had just gone through a 40km/h zone,” she said.
“It’s just unnecessary, it shouldn’t be happening in a 50km/h zone.”
Another parent said on social media that Phoenix Drive and Columbia Drive were “notorious for speeding drivers” with cars hooning recklessly in the area most days and nights.
Leader understands there have been multiple crashes within the past 12 months including an incident involving a car smashing through a fence and ending up in a front yard.
Ms Thambirajah said she wants greater safety measures put in place to prevent someone from being seriously injured or tragically killed.
“I’m looking for investigations to be made on what’s effective and what’s not whether that’s speed bumps or islands,” she said.
“We drive around in a car everyday and we really take for granted that it’s one of the biggest weapons in Australia.
“We don’t think about the harm that could happen if we get distracted or speed, it’s not in your face and people never think it’s going to happen to them.”
Monash Mayor Stuart James said the council was aware of community concerns around irresponsible driver behaviour on the two roads.
“This concerns us as we all have a responsibility to take care and follow the road rules, even more so around schools,” he said.
Mr James said speed surveys were underway in Columbia Drive with surveys to start in Phoenix Drive on Thursday.
“Results of these surveys will inform what traffic management measures (like road humps) we may need to consider to help make the roads safer for residents, and school families and children in the area,” he said.
“In the meantime, we’ve requested Nunawading police to patrol the area to encourage drivers to slow down and obey the road rules.”
