By Luke Voogt
Calls for 50km/h zones on Thompson Rd have sparked intense debate among Geelong residents following the death of an elderly pedestrian last week.
North Geelong traders suggested the reduction, with the road averaging 14 crashes and six serious injuries annually over the past five years, according to VicRoads.
Toy shop owner Sue Dillion last week said she saw one or two “bumper-to-bumper” collisions each week.
“You do see them speeding down here without a doubt,” she said.
“We see the (speed) cameras flashing all the time – with the revenue at the traffic lights they must be raking it in.”
Cafe operator Mark Butcher also supported the reduced limit but the measure divided Indy readers who voiced their anger on social media.
Some commenters said reducing the speed would be a “knee-jerk reaction” while others remembered when the limit was 70km/h or 80km/h.
“Limits won’t fix stupid, won’t stop speeders, won’t address negligence – it will only frustrate people,” Paul Losi commented.
“We (have owned) a family home there since the ’50s, we’ve seen it all. Speed is less an issue over stupidity.
“Roundabouts might work better, but not limits alone.”
Some, like Yolanda Esteban Bort, called for more crossings or other safety measures.
“At least one crossing is needed at the Rutledge entry into the golf course development as there is no footpath that side of Thompson Rd down to Victoria St,” she said.
“Pedestrian safety and amenity should take priority over speed limit changes. “Why does the focus of change always need to lie with cars?”
Others urged the elderly to be more vigilant while crossing.
“I travel that road regularly and the amount of elderly (people) I have seen … not using crossings is frightening,” Kylie Gray wrote.
Tiff Woods agreed and said a speed limit would not help.
“The elderly in the area cross the road so slowly with the ‘they’ll stop for me’ attitude.”
But Louise De Lys supported a 50km/h limit in residential parts of Thompson Rd.
A car struck an 81-year-old North Geelong man at 11.50am last Tuesday as he crossed the road and he died in hospital a few days later.
Police told the Indy the 79-year-old female driver of the car was not at fault.
