SCHOOL crossings are in the spotlight in the southern wards of Mitchell Shire Council as its population boom sees Beveridge Primary School deploying teachers to act as school crossing supervisors.
Victoria-wide, the School Crossing Supervisor Program model is in line with the Road Management Act 2004 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 which outline that road safety is a joint responsibility of State and Local government.
Under the model, each local government operates the program within its boundaries while the Victorian Government provides a subsidy to local government and are responsible for the overarching program.
In 2019, the Department of Transport and Planning launched a review to develop a more rigorous safe-system approach to assessing school crossings and identifying suitable treatment options.
This resulted in the formulation of the School Crossing Risk Assessment Framework, that assesses road trauma risks at school crossings. It considers driver and pedestrian behaviour, surrounding speed zones, types of vehicles, road configuration, exiting infrastructure and sight distance and visibility.
The framework also considers whether alternative safety measures and treatments should be implemented such as zebra crossings.
Presently, Beveridge Primary School with 750 students is not eligible for a funded school crossing supervisor and Council has applied engineering safety measures.
At its Junior Campus, in Arrowsmith Street, to the East of the growing community, students can cross Arrowsmith Street using one of two marked crossings which also feature a speed hump.
At its Senior Campus in Ambrosia Way, there is an official school crossing, yet it is currently being supervised by teachers.
School zones have reduced speed limits to increase the safety for everyone travelling to and from school. Time based reduced speed limits are typically 40 kilometres per hour during school terms on weekdays from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm.
These speed limits do not apply on weekends and public holidays.
When flags are displayed at school crossings, the law is you must stop for pedestrians and remain stopped until the crossing is clear and no one is on the road.
According to the School Crossing Supervisor Subsidy interim guidelines June 2024, a condition of the subsidy is that supervisors be trained before taking up duties.
Training is to cover the procedures to be adopted by supervisors and the traffic laws relating to supervisors and crossings generally and the training of supervisors is to be arranged by Councils.
Mitchell Shire Mayor, Councillor John Dougall acknowledges community concerns regarding pedestrian safety near Beveridge Primary School.
“School Crossing Supervisors play an important role in the local community and are funded in partnership with the Victorian Government,” he said.
“There is a State Government criterion that determines if a school crossing site is eligible for funding.
“Unfortunately following a recent audit, the Beveridge campuses did not meet the threshold for a funded School Crossing Supervisor.
“Council remains committed to advocating for safe school environments and will continue working with local schools, families, and the State Government to explore long-term solutions.”
