The changes by the Council to the Esplanade at Umina Beach are dangerous.
The police response is disgusting.
The local driving community, not much better.
The Council put in a 10km/hr zone, which is needed for residents to safely exit their driveways but in their extreme stupidity the Council took out the speed humps.
The 10km/hr zone has now become a speedway with almost every car exceeding the speed limit by at least 20km/h.
When contacted, the Council told me drivers would get used to it through driver education.
When drivers are asked to slow down the drivers get aggressive and make threats.
For instance, today I saw a neighbour of about 80 years old get abused for being on the share road and asking the driver to slow down – the driver got out to assault him!
I too have been abused and threatened many times and once had a guy try to run me over on my bike – as the Council has left the education to the community.
I contacted the police a few weeks ago and spoke to the Traffic Commander.
He said he understood, “it was a problem, and driver education didn’t work in his experience with 20 years in the force – only tickets do”.
But he did not do anything – so talking the talk but not walking the walk.
In fact, he told me to contact the local member!
I contacted the police again today, after the neighbour got abused and threatened and was put through to the Highway Patrol section.
I explained the situation and when I told the Highway Patrolman that it was a 10km/hr road he laughed and said, “It IS a 10km/hr road”.
Disgusting response.
Anybody that doubts the need for a 10km/hr road here should try and exit my driveway.
It’s a nightmare! The police again, did not indicate they will do anything!
Many of the drivers from the local community would have their car impounded with the speed they do.
Parents, dropping off their kids, safely, to the Umina school and the surf club for Nippers – then do 60km/h (or more) down the 10km/hr share road.
I guess, trying to kill other people’s kids!
I have contacted the Council and told them I will be the first in line for the Coroner’s inquiry.
Email, Feb 17
Stuart Burnett, Umina Beach
The Esplanade may not as our reader states be, the only place that suffers from bad drivers. It seems that some drivers and motor cyclists have to consistently, loudly, violently and dangerously, advertise themselves at all times, on the roads of the Peninsula. Were there not once, Laws prohibiting, dangerous driving, over noisy vehicle exhausts and noise caused by excessive acceleration. Are those laws still in force and are they being Policed ? perhaps not as well as they should be and why not ? Could it be perhaps that changes, from time to time, affecting the powers of our police, have them now, attempting to work with their hands tied behind their backs ?