By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
RESIDENTS of a Pakenham street say the style of speed bumps installed on the road attracts hoons who are using the bumps to propel their cars.
But Cardinia Shire Council said the bumps are bus cushions and have been effective in improving road safety.
Cardinia shire councillor Collin Ross said he has been contacted by distressed Henty Street residents who would not speak directly to the News for fear of retribution.
Speed bumps installed on the street are long and have a flat white surface on their tops which Cr Ross said is used by hoons to propel their car wheels.
“You can see the top of the speed bump which is made of plastic is used to start the wheels spinning, then the hoons move forward onto the bitumen road, creating a screeching noise and burnout,” he said.
Residents reported that they are regularly disturbed by the noise between 11pm and 3am.
On Wednesday 10 February the council’s Senior Traffic Engineer Nicholas Charrett said that bus cushions and kerb outstands installed in early 2014 as part of the Federal BlackSpot Program had been successful in making the road safer.
Before and after traffic surveys, crash data and police reports have all indicated that the humps have been successful.
“Based on these results, and general feedback, it appears that the installation of bus cushions and kerb outstands in Henty Street have addressed the crash and speeding issues that previously existed in this road,” he said.
Mr Charrett said the council had not received any complaints of antisocial behaviour since the bumps were installed.
However Cr Ross said he will be urging the council to look further into the problem.
“Here is an example of fighting against local speeding that had the unintended consequences of creating a hooning burnout strip while trying to cut out speeding motorists,” he said.
“This must come to a stop.
“Cars will be taken off offenders, licences revoked and fines imposed for those who are performing these hooning acts.”
