ROCKDALE will be one of the last council areas in the state to have flashing lights at all 40kmh school zones.
A schedule released this week details how the state government will meet its commitment to install at least one set of lights at every school in NSW by the end of next year.
About 1500 schools are still waiting for this protection for pupils.
Work has been organised by council areas. Rockdale is in the last group, with installations due to start "about November 2015".
Hurstville and Kogarah council areas are scheduled to have lights installed from "about May 2015".
Sutherland Shire is among council areas at the top of the list, with the program due to have started this month.
A parent of children at schools in the Rockdale area said the priority was difficult to understand.
"Good luck to Sutherland Shire, but what about the need in Rockdale?" he said.
"We have an enormous amount of through traffic, including a lot of heavy vehicles.
"Our streets are commonly used by traffic bypassing the M5 East tunnel."
A Transport for NSW spokesman said that under the first phase of the flashing lights program, an approach based on risk had been adopted.
It considered factors such as the speed limit, vehicle and pedestrian volumes, lane numbers, sight distance and pedestrian facilities.
"All higher-risk school zones have now received flashing lights, including schools in Rockdale," he said.
"The second phase of this program is focusing on delivering flashing lights to the remaining schools.
MINISTER PRAISES CLEVER COMMUNITY CRUSADER
ROADS Minister Duncan Gay paid tribute to Brighton-Le-Sands designer Peter Olsen (pictured) who produced the prototype for the lights being used in the second phase of the rollout.
Mr Olsen campaigned for seven years before his design, which is cheaper to manufacture, was adopted.
“I thank Peter Olsen, the great community crusader, who inspired us to look at more efficient ways of building flashing lights so that every school could benefit,’’ Mr Gay said.
“In our office, we call them ‘the Peter Olsen style lights’.
“When this government makes a promise, we stick to it. This is one of the most important promises we have made.’’
Do you think the flashing lights in school zones are important to have in all council areas?
