Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has welcomed the installation of additional flashing lights at Brigidine College, St Ives to increase school zone pedestrian safety.
The NSW Government will install an extra 101 sets of school zone flashing lights by July this year, offering protection at 1,340 schools across NSW.
“We are getting on with the job of installing school zone flashing lights at nearly three times the rate of the former Labor Government,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The new lights are part of the next round of 101 extra installations announced in March. With 280 flashing lights installed this financial year, it will be the largest number ever rolled out in a single financial year.
“Flashing lights slow motorists down around schools and warn them they are approaching a school – this is great news for Brigidine College,” Mr O’Dea said.
The lights have been installed on Woodbury Road and will operate automatically between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm on school days during term time.
“We said savings found in the budget would be diverted towards frontline services and here’s the proof,” Mr O’Dea said.
The flashing lights operate automatically when school zone speed limits are in force to increase motorists’ awareness of school zones. They use LED (light-emitting diode) technology which provides brighter light and is more energy efficient.
Trials of flashing lights have found they helped to slow motorists by an average of seven kilometres an hour when they enter a school zone.
The NSW Government has committed $19.5 million to deliver flashing lights to an additional 800 school zones across four years. This is more than a third of all schools in NSW.
Flashing lights are one component of the NSW Government’s school road safety program. Other measures include marked foot crossings, dragon’s teeth markings, traffic lights, pedestrian refuges and an extensive school road safety education program.
