Adelaide’s most dangerous school pedestrian crossings listed

Exclusive figures reveal the worst Adelaide school crossings for drivers running red lights. Did your school make the list?

A school student crossing at Portrush Rd, near Linden Park Primary School, the worst for dangerous drivers. Picture Kelly barnes

A primary school in Adelaide’s south east has been identified as having Adelaide’s most dangerous school pedestrian crossing, with an average 16 drivers running a red light each week.

More than 20,000 drivers have been caught going through red lights in the close vicinity of schools between 2020 and 2024, new RAA data has revealed.

Linden Park Primary School has the most vulnerable pedestrian crossing at Portrush Rd, 3485 offenders racking up more than $2m total in fines.

On Portrush Rd outside Linden Park Primary 16 drivers are caught on average each week, totalling about 871 offenders per year.

The crossing is also in close vicinity, and used by students from Glenunga International High School and Seymour College. This month, a car also ploughed through the primary school’s fence, but as it was a Sunday, there were no students on site.

Marryatville Primary School’s Kensington Rd crossing is the second worst, with 1872 offences over four years — the school is also not far from the crossing at Marryatville High School where two students were hit by a truck in 2023.

Police attend a vehicle accident on Kensington Rd, Marryatville after two 16 year old school students were seriously injured after being hit by a truck in March 2023. NewsWire/David Mariuz

A 16-year-old boy and girl were crossing near the high school about 8am in March 2023 when they were struck by a truck. Both students survived the crash with multiple injuries, the young boy receiving traumatic brain injuries.

The driver, Sang Van Huynh, 60, avoided jail after receiving a suspended sentence and entering a good behaviour bond, however, his licence was suspended for 11 years, and he was ordered to do 240 hours of community service.

The RAA said the installation of a red light camera and other safety treatments at the Marryatville High crossing has significantly reduced the number of dangerous drivers in the area since the 2023 crash.

Senior Road Safety Manager Charles Mountain said despite safety measures implemented at school crossings the rate of offences was “alarming”.

A new speed camera was installed at Marion Road pedestrian crossing near Ascot Park Primary school in 2019. Picture: Dean Martin

“It’s alarming that motorists continue to run red lights at pedestrian crossings near schools and it’s important to remember children are some of our most vulnerable road users — especially as the same few signalised pedestrian crossing sites continue to have high numbers of red-light offences recorded,” he said.

“RAA would like to see authorities continue to install safety treatments at signalised pedestrian crossings, similar to those installed near Marryatville High School, which has recorded relatively low numbers of red light running compared to other sites since its upgrade.

“We’re also reminding road users to stay vigilant around school zones and school crossings, particularly where children are in the vicinity.”

Some of Adelaide’s school crossings do not have data identified or made public by police for the RAA to analyse, but of all crossings listed, 15 of them are at primary schools.

A total $456.7m has been invested into road safety since the 2023-24 state budget, including 40km/h time-based speed limits for school pedestrian crossings on busy roads.

Originally published as Adelaide’s most dangerous school pedestrian crossings listed