In December 2006 I reported a fault with RTA equipment that was affecting the operation of one of my signs. It took the RTA three and a half months to fix it, during which time my lights appeared to be malfunctioning.

To be specific, the mains power to my lights goes first to an RTA-supplied earth leakage safety switch, then to an RTA-supplied transformer, then to my lights. The transformer isolates the lights from the safety switch meaning it is physically impossible for the safety switch to be tripped by a fault with the lights.

• In November 2006 the safety switch tripped off. I reset it to restore power to the lights.
• On 5 December 2006 the switch tripped again. I notified the RTA by phone.
• On 7 December 2006 the switch tripped again. I notified the RTA in writing.
• On 5 February 2007 it tripped again. I rang the RTA traffic lights hotline and notified the RTA in writing.
• On 8 February it tripped again. I rang the RTA traffic lights hotline and notified the RTA in writing.
• On 6 March and 8 March it tripped again. I notified the RTA in writing.
• On 11 March it tripped again. I notified the RTA in writing.
• On 14 March and 16 March it tripped again. I notified the RTA in writing.

The RTA did not replace the faulty switch until late March 2007, three and a half months after I first reported it.

In a 2009 media release the RTA claimed that back-to-base monitoring is essential because it "alerts the RTA to any problems immediately" and "is essential to ensure our children remain safe". It further stated: "We cannot install potentially unsafe, unreliable and infrequently monitored systems when it is our children we are trying to protect."

The lack of action by the RTA over the above fault showed blatant disregard for the welfare of children, in order to make my lights appear unreliable.