A petition for peaceful streets in Bayside has grown into a community action group demanding the state government intervene in road safety issues in the Bayside area.
Mother-of-two, Heidi Douglas began the petition after she was almost hit by a motorcycle West Botany Street and then two cars in Bay Street in separate incidents within one week last July.
The Bayside Residents for Peaceful Streets petition hosted on communityrun.org is asking for Bayside Council to work with St George Police to enforce Road Rule 291 better, requiring that a person must not start a vehicle or drive in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke.
"The petition led to many people emailing me with their personal stories about their efforts to reach council, the police and local MP's, making complaints and asking for action on this issue," Ms Douglas said.
"But these authorities have been passing the buck between each other, saying the other is responsible.
"The community is frustrated, stressed and desperate for change. Are they waiting for someone to die before they act?", she said.
On Sunday on Bay Street, Brighton-Le-Sands a car doing a burnout in a 40km zone lost control and crossed the median strip, running into a flag pole, before its driver and passenger illegally abandoned the car.
Local resident Eamon Dilworth said burnouts on the same strip are a regular occurrence.
"There have been several serious incidents in that spot, and we don't want to wait until someone is hurt or killed before action is taken," he said.
"The area needs traffic calming installed, and hot spots need to be blocked off. We need a permanent police presence so that local residents and visitors can have a peaceful and safe environment."
Heidi Douglas' petition has led to the community Facebook group "Peaceful Streets Action Group: Bayside and Surrounds", now led by a committee of core organisers from across the area.
The group has a website PeacefulBayside.org launching this week.
"The website helps people know what they can do to report dangerous driving incidents to police, and how to ask Bayside Council to intervene with local hooning hotspots," Ms Douglas said.
"We are also asking people to help us track how many complaints are being made to police, council and MP's on this issue," she said.
"Residents want to live in safety. We want drivers to be more respectful of other residents. We want to be able to sleep a night through without being woken by hoons.
"The State Government now needs to intervene in this issue. We are asking Andrew Constance Minister for Transport and Roads to meet with local stakeholders to help implement solutions."
