MEDIA RELEASE
13 February 2007
RTA School Zone Flashing Lights Fail
On Monday 12th February at 2.52pm the school zone flashing lights on the Princes Hwy at Blakehurst either side of the Mater Dei primary school were not working, as can be seen from the attached photo of one of them taken by the School Zone Santa (www.schoolzonesanta.com). (High-res photo also available).
The fact that the lights failed after just two weeks' operation is of itself unremarkable and no criticism of the supplier of the lights is implied. All electronic devices are subject to failure from time to time. What is remarkable is that these are the RTA's new $36,000 lights which, it is claimed, are that expensive because they are so reliable.
The RTA's previous 3-year trial proved that two simple flashing lights are 50% more effective at reducing traffic speed than signs with lots of bells and whistles. This incident now proves that expensive solutions are not necessarily more reliable than cheap solutions.
For the cost of the current 100-school trial the RTA could have installed reliable, proven flashing lights at every school in NSW. When is the government going to stop the endless trialling of lights and get on with the job of installing cost-effective flashing lights at all schools?
RTA Lights Blakehurst not working
For more information contact:
Peter Olsen
13/55 The Grand Pde
Brighton-le-Sands 2216
0414-538-404.