The intersection of Princes Highway and Toomuc Valley Road must be signalised, a new petition demands, describing its dangers for local families as a ‘ticking time bomb’.
Sponsored by Eastern Victoria MP Renee Heath, the petition draws attention to the intersection and its significant traffic of school commuters from Beaconhills College and Pakenham Secondary School.
“Everyday there are near misses and regular collisions averaging five accidents per year, one involving an eight-year-old-student airlifted to hospital,” the petition states.
“There are serious concerns this intersection will eventually claim a life.”
Beaconhills College Business Manager David Young said the school wrote to Cardinia Shire Council in 2017 raising concerns about traffic around the school, particularly regarding this intersection.
He said that to date neither the council or VicRoads had responded to requests to address the problems.
“The community has experienced multiple accidents and near misses at this intersection,” Young said.
“Many of our staff have been involved in collisions there. The intersection is just far too dangerous given the volume of traffic using the roads in this region.
“It has just got to be a signalised intersection.”
Heath said the college has been ignored for years.
“For too long the parents and students at Beaconhills College have been ignored and their safety put at risk. Working with local parents, I am pushing the government to prioritise community safety,” Heath said.
“The school now has over 2000 students and the need for traffic lights operating during school pick up and drop off times is not too much to ask.
“I’ve spoken with school parents that say getting in and out of this complex intersection is a nightmare.
“This area has frequent car accidents. Sometimes cars are banked up for 20 minutes on Toomuc Valley Rd waiting to get onto the Princess Hwy and kids are seen taking risks crossing the road all the time.
“It’s a ticking time bomb before something unthinkable happens.”
