Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, right, with Inverell High School Principal Penny Colley and captains Will McAuliffe and Hannah Wales at one of Inverell High’s existing school zone flashing lights.
Monday, 31 October 2016
AN area of intense student traffic for nearly 80 years, Inverell High School is about to get an extra set of school zone flashing lights to remind motorists to take extra care when driving near the school.
Local State MP Adam Marshall said the new lights were part of the Northern Tablelands electorate’s share of a $5 million NSW Government program to install additional school zone flashing lights. The new rollout targets schools with multiple busy entrances, where there are higher road safety risks.
“Flashing lights programmed to go on during times of high student traffic have been proven to concentrate motorists’ minds when they are driving in the high-risk areas around schools,” Mr Marshall said.
“The government has already ensured that all eligible schools across the State have at least one set of flashing lights. This new initiative will help busy schools with multiple entrances, like Inverell High, get additional lights for other high-risk areas.
“I’m delighted that Inverell High is one of three schools across the Northern Tablelands that has requested and will receive additional lights. I frequently drive in the school zone, and know how busy the student traffic can get on the school’s service roads.”
The new lights will be installed on O’Connor Street, alongside the school.
The new locations for school zone flashing lights were selected by a risk assessment model which takes into account a number of factors including approach speed, pedestrian numbers, traffic volumes, and heavy vehicle traffic volumes.
Flashing lights are funded through the Community Road Safety Fund, where all speed and red light camera fines go directly towards vital road safety programs.
School zones are enforced on government gazetted school days to ensure operation dates and times are consistent and easy to follow.