Parents and staff are cheering at the news flashing ‘school zone’ lights will be installed at the four local schools.
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The schools Singleton Public School, Australian Christian College Singleton, Broke Public School and Jerrys Plains Public School are expected to have the lights installed by the end of this month.
All the schools are extremely happy to know they will now have similar warning signs to other local schools and are hopeful the signs will alert motorist to the fact they are entering a school zone where children are entering and leaving their schools.
The signs are being installed by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
Parents leaving Singleton Public School with their children during the afternoon pick-up told The Argus they were really happy the signs were to be installed.
They said thanks to the town revitalisation work more traffic was using Elizabeth Street and ignoring the road rules which require traffic to slow down to 40km/hour during the morning (8:00 to 9:30am) and afternoon (2:30 to 4:00pm) periods.
The school had long campaigned for the installation of the lights with principal David Crowe saying the installation of the light was a wonderful step forward.
“But we view this as a first step with more work required to improve traffic flow and road safety near the school,” he said.
“Once the work in John Street is completed we will need to undertake a traffic study to see if the changes to that street affect Elizabeth and Hunter street traffic flows.
Mr Crowe said the school and its P &C would continue to hold discussion with Singleton Council regarding traffic flows and parking restriction in the two streets.
We believe improvements can be made to improve road safety in the two surrounding streets.
“But we are very hopeful the installation by the RMS of the new flashing lights near the conjunction of Elizabeth and John Street will alert motorists to the fact they are entering a school zone. “ he said.
Singleton Public School like many other local schools is keen to encourage more of its pupils to walk to and from school. Mr Crowe said earlier this year the school held a walk to school day that proved very successful.
A spokesperson for the for the Australia Christian College located on the corner of Kelso and the New England Highway said the signs can’t come quick enough.
The NSW Government has provided funding for the installation of school zone signs with flashing lights at all Singleton schools by the end of this year.
Singleton Council General Manager Lindy Hyam says Council has been requesting flashing lights for these school zones for some time.
“Installing these flashing lights in schools zones has been shown to improve driver awareness of the need to travel at a lower speed to ensure the safety of children and others coming and going from the school area,” she says.
