EPPING ELECTORATE SIGNAGE TRIAL
Page: 67
Mr TINK (Epping) [5.28 p.m.]: I draw the attention of honourable members to a new kind of street sign that was successfully trialled in Epping in 1998 and endorsed by residents, authorities and emergency services. These signs make a significant contribution to road safety. The signs are called "Lifesaver" signs and are characterised by property numbers in large fonts on every sign, using a new numbering scheme called wedge notation. Wedge notation uses a wedge, or incline symbol, to show the direction the numbers increase or decrease. Two numbers show the first address in the block on both sides of these streets. Only these three elements—two numbers and a wedge—are shown, because drivers do not have time to decipher more. The numbers are 40 to 100 per cent larger than usual, allowing them to be easily read across intersections and in fast-moving traffic. This readability, plus the conciseness of wedge notation, enables drivers to make safe, confident decisions quickly, which they cannot do using present signage. These signs can reduce the response time of the emergency services, prevent accidents caused by driver hesitation, reduce stress in all road users—hence the name "Lifesaver". "Lifesaver" signs cost no more than many currently used, and they can be implemented immediately. Old and new numbering schemes cannot be confused, as the wedge immediately identifies the new scheme. Although "Lifesaver" signs are uniform in their method for displaying property numbers, several designs are offered, permitting uniqueness of each council's signs. No existing sign need be replaced until the end of its natural life, but each new sign should be a "Lifesaver". As the life of a sign is approximately 15 years, in 20 years every street name sign in New South Wales and hopefully in Australia would be a "Lifesaver" sign. Associated with the signs and comprising a full "Lifesaver" plan are recommendations for where the signs should be placed, council codes for the display of house numbers by property owners, the naming of both streets at virtually all intersections, and council-supplied kerb numbers at every address. Those last two measures do involve additional funds, but they can be implemented gradually over many years. Standards Australia advises that once widely accepted, the new signs can be incorporated into the relevant standard. I have no doubt this will follow, because I was present at several public meetings where the Epping trial signs were displayed, and there was strong support for them. In a survey of residents following the trial, respondents chose the wedge system as the best of three ways of showing property numbers. Internal education programs will brief emergency services personnel on the new system, and the general public will learn about them through increasing exposure to the new signs on street corners, and through notices in existing council publications. I encourage all honourable members to consider this proposal and to note that so far there is strong support from people in the Ambulance Service including Superintendent Don Hart, Area Manager, North Sydney and Central Coast; Superintendent Tony Gately, Sector Manager, North Sydney and Central Coast; Superintendent Phil Wilson, Sector Manager, South Eastern and Central Sydney; Superintendent H. Kruit, Sector Manager, Wentworth and Western Sydney Sector; Superintendent J. J. Woods, Sector Manager, South West Sydney Sector. Representatives of New South Wales Fire Brigades who support the proposal include Robert Dobson, Chief Superintendent, Deputy Regional Commander North; Superintendent Stephen Gray, Superintendent Zone N2, Region North and Superintendent Murray Kear, Zone Commander N1, Region North. In addition, from the New South Wales Police Service support has been received from Superintendent Jack Williams and Frank Mennilli. I ask honourable members to approach their local ambulance, fire brigade and police commanders to seek the use of the proposed signs. I highly recommend the signs which I have seen working well in my electorate. I encourage honourable members to approach local councils for their views on that type of signage. The signs have the strong support of the Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council, Councillor Steven Pringle. With relevance to road safety, the signs have the support of Dr Thomas Triggs, Deputy Director, Accident Research Centre, Monash University. I thank my constituent Mrs Beatrice Player, the instigator of the Epping trial and developer of the wedge notation. She is happy to be contacted at her address, 26 Bulkira Road, Epping, 2121, or on telephone number 9876 5993. I ask honourable members to understand that the "Lifesaver" plan has been trialled, and it works. Emergency services are asking for it and the public is ready for it. All that remains is for councils to implement it. I ask all honourable members to follow this up with their councils and, more particularly, their emergency services workers to determine their opinion on the signs. Mr MOSS (Canterbury—Parliamentary Secretary) [5.33 p.m.]: The suggestion of the honourable member for Epping is a practical one that local government should follow through. Include numbering on street signs requires no effort. It is a shame that in this country street numbers run continually. In the United States of America, particularly on major thoroughfares, it is easy to identify addresses because numbering changes from block to block, usually in increments of 1,000 and sometimes in increments of 100. If we used that system emergency services personnel driving down a thoroughfare and looking for an address would know what block they were in. Unfortunately, we do not have that system in this country. It is important for emergency services vehicles to be able to find an address quickly. I fully support the suggestion of the honourable member for Epping and agree that all local government areas, particularly those in metropolitan Sydney, should take up the suggestion.
Extract from the Legislative Assembly Hansard of 08/11/2001 - Proof
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