A western suburbs MP has taken to publicly lobbying her own colleagues in an attempt to improve safety at a notorious Truganina intersection.
Laverton MP Sarah Connolly has launched an e-petition and will write to Police Minister Anthony Carbines demanding road safety cameras be installed at the intersection of Leakes Road and Clearwood Drive in Truganina.
The intersection is close to Truganina P-9 College and is frequently used by students and parents coming to and from the school.
The Legislative Assembly petition launched last week calls the intersection ‘dangerous’ and demands the following action – “The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria calls on the Minister for Police and Crime Prevention and the Government to have the Road Safety Camera Site Selection Committee assess the potential installation of a speed camera and red light camera at the intersection of Leakes Road and Clearwood Drive in Truganina.”
Ms Connolly said the petition and letter calling for speed and red light cameras at the intersection was a response to community demand.
“This will provide better protection for our Truganina P-9 school community,” she said
“Every student deserves to be safe when walking or riding to and from school.”
While the petition and letter will be sent to the police minister, the placement of road safety cameras is decided by the Fixed Camera Site Selection Committee (FCSSC) and based on factors including crash statistics, data on driver behaviour, site suitability, traffic patterns and existing road rules.
The FCSSC is chaired by Victoria Police and includes representatives from the Department of Transport and Planning and the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines was contacted for comment.
Some safety measures have already been put in place, including 40km/h signs on Leakes Road on the approach to Clearwood Drive.
Signalisation times at the intersection have also been lengthened from eight to 21 seconds, giving children and parents more time to cross the road.
