Traffic wardens are refusing to work at a “dangerous” children’s crossing servicing a West Australian private school, citing the significant number of drivers choosing to speed through the area who put their lives – and students’ – at risk.
Presbyterian Ladies’ College has spoken out after receiving a notice from WA Police’s Children’s Crossing Unit that the latest traffic warden appointed to the role had asked to be removed not long after starting because they felt unsafe.
Presbyterian Ladies’ College Perth principal Cate Begbie takes on the role of traffic warden to help keep students safe.
The school has struggled to find a long-term traffic warden for the crossing along Stirling Highway in Peppermint Grove since 2021, with staff having to fill any gaps – sometimes for months at a time.
Principal Cate Begbie, who has also taken on shifts at the crossing, said the school had spent the years since warning police and the state government it was unsafe, with multiple near-misses and serious incidents recorded.
Begbie said she feared the lack of response would lead to a tragedy unless there was immediate change.
No students have been involved in an accident, but there have been several car accidents at the crossing over the past few years and, in 2024, the traffic warden working at the time was hit by a car.
He was seriously injured and has been unwilling to return to the job since.
WA Police placed a temporary speed camera at the crossing after that incident and clocked 401 cars driving over the speed limit in the space of just 80 minutes.
Those 80 minutes were right after school finished for the day.
The Children’s Crossing Unit emailed the school last week to inform them the latest placement had asked to be removed from the crossing.
“Unfortunately the new warden I placed on the crossing on Stirling Highway, near McNeil Street, this week has asked to be removed from this crossing due to the danger, he has stated that he feels like each time he walks out on to the crossing he is risking his life,” they wrote in an email.
“We have previously had a warden hit on this crossing, and he is still dealing with the mental effects of this trauma.
“I have moved both wardens to other crossings for the time being, and don’t believe that I will be able to find anyone to fill this position.”
Begbie said teachers had once again been forced to step in.
She said the school needed immediate safety measures to be introduced, including a permanent speed camera and traffic lights – something she said had been consistently asked for.
“This is not just a school issue, it’s a public safety crisis. Our students are now being forced to cross a multi-lane highway without any protection. That’s simply unacceptable,” she said.
“We’ve had over 400 drivers caught speeding, a warden who was seriously injured, months without crossing guards, near misses and frightened families.
“What more needs to happen before this is treated with the urgency it deserves.
“This is not about blame, it’s about safety.
“We are ready to work with the WA government on a solution, but the current situation is completely untenable, and the risk of a tragedy increases every day this is ignored.”
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby admitted the highway near PLC was “very busy” and “very congested”.
“I’m surprised that, given the congestion, there are speed issues,” he said.
“They (drivers) need to slow down to 40 kilometres – you need to do the right thing around these crossings.
“I’ll consider any measures that we can introduce to make kids safer.”
Whitby said he would consider what the school had said regarding how to make the crossing safer, and take a look at a letter they sent to his predecessor.
WA Police have been contacted for comment.
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