More than 550 people have signed a petition demanding that Hobsons Bay council install pedestrian traffic lights at a Newport crossing used by numerous children.
A pedestrian was last week struck by a car at the zebra crossing in Mason Street, between Schutt and Mirls streets.
Ed Moran, who started the petition on Change.org, said he had witnessed many near misses.
“Newport residents need a signal-controlled crossing operated by pedestrians … before there is a fatal accident,” his petition states.
Newport’s Glen Baird said many children used the crossing to get to school.
“The childcare centre’s right in front of the crossing and then you’ve also got Sacred Heart school, so all the kids from that side of Newport have to cross this crossing to get there,” he said.
“It’s a crossing that all the kids use and what happens is, the drivers are not stopping for the crossing, they’re just going through it.
“I live in the street and I take my son to school in the mornings. Even when we take our dog for a walk, it’s a real struggle to get onto that crossing because the cars just won’t stop. I just want the council to put a set of traffic lights in.”
Hobsons Bay mayor Angela Altair said installing traffic lights “would require the approval of VicRoads”.
A VicRoads spokesman said Mason Street did not come under its control or authority and that it was the council’s responsibility.
“We will work closely with Hobsons Bay City Council on its plans to improve safety on Mason Street and surrounding roads,” the spokesman said.
