SPEED humps will be installed outside the Minimbah School to protect school children from speeding motorists on Long Swamp Road.
The Armidale Express reported last month that children as young as five were crossing the road unsupervised and cars were ignoring school zone rules.
Armidale Regional Council responded to the school’s call on Wednesday and will install speed humps in the coming weeks to protect the students.
“Council will install a traffic and speed analysis system and traffic cushions on Long Swamp Road as soon as possible,” a council spokesperson said.
The traffic and speed analysis device will give Council more accurate data on motorists using the road.
But Council said it would install the traffic cushions similar to the speed humps on the Dumaresq and Markham Street roundabout, regardless of any new data.
“We have found these to be the most effective way to slow down cars,” they said.
“The traffic cushions are there 24/7 so even if a child is crossing the road outside school hour, the cars should still slow down.”
Council will ask the police to monitor the road during school hours after talking at a Gayinyaga committee meeting.
Many of the Minimbah school children affected live in Narwan Village on the adjacent Cookes Road.
Narwan Village elders presented a petition to Council last week saying speed humps were necessary on Cookes Road too.
“We are sick of seeing the near misses,” Narwan Village resident Hazel Vale said.
“They come through so fast and it’s just too dangerous.”
Many of the village’s children play on or around the road.
It's a problem that stems from the closure of Thelma Vale Park more than a decade ago, leaving children with no other place to play.
“There are a lot of mishaps with the kids and cars,” Ms Vale said.
Council said it was highly likely they would install speed cushions on Cookes Road.
“At this stage we will monitor the situation on Cookes Road, but it is very likely we will install traffic cushions there too,” a council spokesperson said.
Traffic safety in the area has been an ongoing problem for residents.
The Minimbah School was fitted with flashing light and a school crossing last year.
But a Council spokesperson said part of the problem was that many drivers didn’t realise they must stop for children when the orange flags are up.
