School Zone Santa .Com

Random acts of kindness it appears.
The idea was to slow down cars to get publicity and highlight the problems at school zones.
Since school started this year we have slowed down to the legal speed hundreds of cars at the Kogarah school zone
Coincidentaly by slowing the cars to 40klms they don't get caught by the speed cameras.
So hundreds of drivers don't get fined for speeding,which most wouldn't have done, if they had known it was school zone time.

If "flashing lights" are installed at Kogarah the speeding by good drivers would stop and as I've said all along anyone caught speeding at "flashing light" school zones, double the fine.
For some reason our protest isn't media material.

This is the e mail I sent to Mr Costa, the new roads minister.(22/2/05)

Dear Mr Costa,
I am very concerned about the 40 klm school zones and variable speed zones
The idea of having drivers slow down at schools is of course a good idea, but drivers just can’t get used to school zone times.

Why is it that years after school zones have been law does the RTA find it necessary to have reminder messages on their overhead signs and expensive advertisements on radio.
Laws to enforce them have to be by necessity, uniform and concrete otherwise smart arse lawyers will find loopholes.
But this law is not working.
I stood watching the Gymea school zone for four days last June and the 188 or so drivers that the speed camera flashed at, did not have a clue that they were breaking the law.

How can it help a child on the day of the “speeding” offence, if the driver is fined 4-5 weeks later.

To help make drivers aware of school zone times I feel that flashing lights are needed.
If drivers ignore flashing lights and still speed (and some will)double the fines and that helps pay for more lights.

Good drivers will always slow down when necessary.

The twin speed cameras at Kogarah variable/school zone are nothing but a disgrace. Driver after driver gets booked without realizing that they have broken any law.

From 8 till 8.30am there are few children and the same after 9.10am till 9.30
Between 2.30 and 3.00 pm nobody and after 3.15 till the end of school zone time at 4.00pm the only person on the eastern side of the street is me holding up a " It’s school zone time " reminding passing drivers to slow down for a deserted street.

People from Berry on the south coast to the city know me as “School zone santa” and every driver that we slow to the legal speed and doesn’t get fined is happy and all the other drivers are laughing at the RTA

Yesterday I would’ve “saved “180 drivers and last Thursday over 200.

In the e mails I’m getting, there are stories of people never being booked in.30/40 years until school zones.

One man booked 4 times at kogarah was just keeping up with other traffic .He had a reason for being a little distracted as he was going to St George hospital for cancer treatment.
To have a potential death sentence is tough enough and then to be booked 4 times was a dreadful impost.

He is helping me with a "It’s School Zone Time sign" as from Thursday or Friday

I wrote on my website27/1/05 under “Cranky drivers make cranky voters” that you are a no nonsense type of person and what you have done since taking on “roads” shows that you are.

But you have to see it, to understand what goes on at Kogarah So I invite you to come here one morning or afternoon at school zone time to have a look, and you’ll see why good drivers are angry, frustrated, and disappointed after being caught-out at this school zone.

My web site is www.schoolzonesanta.com I'm sorry the web site is a bit wordy but the entry on10/2/05 "when your'e talking about it we're talking about it" might more explain the reason for my protest.

Yours faithfully......
...............................................

This is the e-mail that I received 11.43 am 23/2/05(the next morning)

Dear Mr .....

The Minister for Roads, Michael Costa, has asked me to thank you for your e-mail concerning School Zones.

The matters you have raised are currently being examined and a response will be provided to you as soon as possible

Yours sincerely
..........
Office of the Minister for Roads

.........................................................

When is as soon as possible?
What's to examine, hop in a Limo and come out to Kogarah and have a look

Thanks for visiting the web site,feel free to comment and ideas are most welcome.

Kogarah at 8