GLEN Eira College is appealing for a speed zone change outside the school, saying leadfoot motorists are putting students’ lives in danger.

The high school students use a pedestrian crossing on Booran Rd to access the gym and English Language Centre but the speed limit is 40km/h only from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm. It is 60km/h at other times.

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School council vice-president Ruth Gordon said students use the crossing through the day for classes and during lunch hour and there had been many near misses with motorists failing to stop in time for the red light.

She said teachers supervised students crossing and several incidents had been reported where drivers had crossed the line.

media_camera School Council vice-president Ruth Gordon wants the 40 km/h limit to apply all day. Picture: Chris Eastman

“There have been incidents reported where teachers have had to stop kids from crossing when it’s green because people don’t stop and run red lights,” Ms Gordon said.

“Imagine if something bad happens, we don’t want to wait for that.

“It’s a priority, it seems like an accident waiting to happen.”

Ms Gordon said school representatives met VicRoads in December and agreed the best solution was 40km/h electronic variable flashing signs between 8am and 4pm.

But she said the school had received no written confirmation since then and it could take up to 10 years to receive the signs.

VicRoads metro east transport and planning acting director Savoula Lidis confirmed the meeting with the school and the organisation would continue to monitor the safety and speed limit of the road.

media_camera Students Tori, Jasmine, Ben, Estelle, and Jenna at the crossing. Picture: Chris Eastman

Ms Lidis said to improve pedestrian safety along Booran Rd, VicRoads had upgraded the crossing to LED lights to improve visibility, refreshed the line marking and requested Glen Eira Council trim the nearby vegetation on the side of the road.

“We receive many requests for school zones and shopping strips to have static speed limit signs upgraded to electronic flashing signs,” Ms Lidis said.

“These requests need to be prioritised for future funding consideration across Victoria.

“At this stage, due to low traffic volumes, Booran Rd does not qualify for electronic signs.”

Caulfield state Liberal MP David Southwick said immediate action needed to be taken.

“The government has known for a year the dangers at the Booran Rd pedestrian crossing — but students are still at risk. Enough is enough,” he said.