Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has welcomed the announced installation of flashing lights at Belrose Public School and Frenchs Forest Public School to improve school zone pedestrian safety.
The government is upgrading school zone signs at 400 schools across NSW. This involves removing and replacing existing static signs with signs that include flashing lights.
“The new flashing lights are part of a $5 million government program to identify schools with higher road safety risks and multiple busy entrances to receive this extra level of protection.
“Flashing lights slow motorists down around schools and warn them that they are approaching a school. This is great news for both Frenchs Forest Public School and Belrose Public School,” Mr O’Dea said.
The flashing lights will be installed at Cotentin Road for Belrose Public School and at Grace Avenue for Frenchs Forest Public School. They will operate automatically between 8am & 9.30am and 2.30pm & 4pm on school days.
There will be temporary traffic changes during work hours including lane closures, which may affect travel times. Once the new signs are working, the old signs will be removed.
The flashing lights will 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.
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.
