IN an effort to curb speeding and ensure the safety of pedestrians using roads in ward 31, new speed bumps have been installed on four local roads.
Ward councillor Chris Pappas said speed bumps had been installed in Julia Road in Berea to stop speeding in the road, in Bazley Avenue because of the large number of school children and pedestrians on the road and the fact that it is a short cut to major routes, and in Hugo Road and Seaforth Avenue as a result of the number of taxis and buses which use the road.
“Speed calming is still planned for Villa Road as this is used for drag racing. We will now start the process for the next lot of speed bumps, bearing in mind the expense, where money can be used for other projects in the ward, as well as the fact that speed bumps are not the answer to curb speeding,” he said, adding that he had received requests for speed bumps in Sparks and Brickfield Road, however bumps in these roads were not viable as they carry a high volume of traffic.
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“Speed bumps reduce traffic capacity by 30 per cent and therefore bumps cannot be installed in these busy roads as they would become gridlocked,” he said.
Pappas said better enforcement by Metro Police was needed, however unfortunately they did not have the capacity, and have only four vehicles per 180 000 people, covering 10 wards.
“These areas include major shopping malls, the CBD, entertainment areas like Greyville Racecourse, Botanic Gardens, Florida Road, four universities and highways,” he said.
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