Drivers ignoring 40 zone

GEELONG council is “disappointed” after a review found a majority of motorists are not complying with recently implemented school speed zone restrictions on Purnell Rd.

The Corio road has long been a source of concern for students and parents, and Northern Bay College students last year wrote to City of Greater Geelong and VicRoads pleading to make Purnell Rd a 40km/h school zone.

The school zone speed restrictions were installed on a 500m stretch between Princess Rd and Goulburn Avenue, in August.

A review conducted by council found three out of four cars were exceeding the new 40km/h zone, City of Greater Geelong director city services Guy Wilson-Browne said, with an average speed of 48km/h.

“The City’s review of traffic along Purnell Rd found an average of 545 vehicles used the school speed limit zone from 8am to 9am and 642 vehicles from 3pm to 4pm,” he said.

“We will work closely with VicRoads and police to continue to improve road safety for pedestrians in the area and to assist driver awareness of the new school speed limit zone.”

The review used a traffic classifier to monitor vehicles.

Purnell Rd runs to the south of Northern Bay College’s Wexford Court campus and is home to a school crossing, a kindergarten and several child care centres.

Purnell Rd has been the site of several major crashes, including a May 2013 incident at the intersection of Purnell and Bacchus Marsh roads, resulting in the death of an 11-yearold boy who was hit by a bus while riding his bike to school.

Mr Wilson-Browne said “we will now look at implementing supporting road and footpath infrastructure to further improve pedestrian safety and assist drivers in the area.”

“This includes working with VicRoads on road safety measures, and investigating the possibility of extending the school zone to Bacchus Marsh Rd,” he said.