$854 is cheap: Putting children’s lives at risk

Slow down near school crossings and protect young lives: Tanya Hartshorne is pictured with daughters Tayla and Hollie. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe
Source: News Limited

THE fine for drivers who run a red light near a school should double to $854 to help improve road safety for children, West Torrens Council says.

The council this week wrote to the State Government asking it to increase the fine for running a red light at pedestrian crossings near schools.

The request was in response to Richmond Primary School’s concerns about cars and trucks failing to stop at the crossing on South Rd in front of its campus.

Principal Tracey Davies said increasing the fine would stop drivers putting children’s lives at risk.

“There are near misses, constant reports to SA Police and it is only a matter of time before a fatal accident occurs,” Ms Davies said

Tanya Hartshorne, whose two children attend the school, said drivers also regularly blocked the crossing, making it difficult for students to cross the road.

“Nine out of 10 times cars will sit in the middle of the road and I myself have walked around a truck and they just don’t care,” Mrs Hartshorne said.

The government installed a red light camera at the crossing in May last year.

The Transport Department turned the camera off in February as part of a $9.5 million project to widen the South Rd/Richmond Rd intersection.

Police records show not a single driver has been fined for running a red light at the crossing since the camera was installed.

Ms Davies said teachers and parents had seen the camera flash when drivers ran a red light.

She believed the lack of fines showed the camera, or its reporting system, was faulty.

Police did not respond to the Weekly Times Messenger’s questions about the camera, including if it was faulty.

In an emailed response, a Transport Department spokeswoman, who refused to be named, said the department would likely reconnect the camera in December, following the road works.

Councillor John Woodward, whose daughter attends the school, led the calls for increased fines for running a red light near schools.

He said doubling the fine would make drivers think twice about endangering children.

“I think a precedent needs to be set, particularly in protecting the schoolchildren,” Cr Woodward said.

Road Safety Minister Tony Piccolo said safety near schools was more complex than just doubling the fine for running a red light.

“While I understand the councillor’s concerns, I am not convinced that simply doubling the penalty will resolve the problem,” Mr Piccolo said.

“The government regularly reminds motorists to take extra care when approaching children’s crossings.”

Opposition road safety spokesman Corey Wingard was also against doubling the fine.

“I haven’t been presented with any evidence to say that doubling the penalty for red light camera offences will increase road safety,” Mr Wingard said.

“This is a road safety issue and it hinges around making people aware of the devastation running red lights or speeding near schools can cause.”

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$854 is cheap: Putting children’s lives at risk