Students rile at drivers

By Paul Pickering
IT IS a simple message, delivered in no uncertain terms.
Clearly, grade five and six students from Sherbrooke Community School are prepared to pull no punches on the issue of road safety.
The banner sign dominating the intersection of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road and Burwood Highway in Ferntree Gully, is a manifestation of students’ growing frustration at the behaviour of hills motorists.
The initiative is part of a community awareness campaign by Melbourne Eastern Ranges Roadsafe, a group that includes representatives from VicRoads, the police, the education sector and general public.
Sherbrooke Community School assistant principal Kerry Bennetto, who has previously been involved with the group, consulted Monbulk Police Sergeant Alan Fincher to decide on a road safety message that was suitable for the Yarra Ranges.
Sergeant Fincher suggested that the topics of road rage and tail-gating were the current focus of police.
While the message is directed at motorists, Ms Bennetto acknowledged the benefit the program had for the students. “Although these students are a long way off being drivers, there is a need for them to think about driving and the dangerous issues that are involved in this every day activity,” she said.
“The students enjoyed this process and take great pride that their banner is on display and helping keep the roads safer.”