Safety fears at school zone

Calls for speed and red light cameras at a major Moreton Bay intersection, to ease safety fears at a school zone, appear to have failed.

Resident Ash Maguire had raised concerns over a “critical safety failure” and appealed for “immediate action” at the Hercules Rd/Anzac Ave junction in Kippa-Ring.

Details were given of drivers ignoring speed limits in the school zone, near misses and illegal street racing at the busy intersection.

State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley said, in a written response, the “concerns are not new” and a review was under way by Transport and Main Roads (TMR).

She said permanent speed and red-light cameras have been “raised before as a potential deterrent to non-compliant driver behaviour.”

But, TMR has reviewed the intersections and locations with a higher rate of serious crashes have been prioritised for fixed enforcement cameras, at this time.

“The selection of camera sites is primarily based on crash history, ensuring resources are directed to locations where they are likely to have the greatest impact on road safety,” a TMR spokesperson said.

However, fixed enforcement cameras are in the area having been selected using the prioritisation criteria, as well as several mobile speed camera sites.

Cr Jim Moloney (Div 8), also contacted about the intersection, has “referred concerns and suggestions” to Moreton Bay City Council’s Integrated Transport and Planning Department.

“They will investigate and consider appropriate next steps in consultation with the relevant divisional councillor and the local community,” he said.

“I will also raise this location with Council’s Public Safety team for consideration of a mobile CCTV camera deployment.”

Ash Maguire claims the Hercules Rd/Anzac Ave “40km/h school zone is being ignored by an estimated 90 per cent of motorists”.

“During the first week back at school, vehicles ran red lights and sped in this school zone, on four occasions nearly striking multiple children,” Ash wrote. “Most were traveling at least double the speed limit.”

“Two motorcycles are frequently observed racing through this specific school zone at triple the speed limit over the last three months.

“Despite previous contact with police and council, there has been no visible change in driver behavior or enforcement; this has been the case for two years now.”

Ash’s requests include: “A targeted blitz” by police during school drop-off and pick-up times and "hard" traffic calming measures such as digital speed feedback signs.