Stop speeding: Sydney neighbourhood residents send message with a sign

The stop sign is seen at the intersection of Cottage Road and Christopher Crescent in Sydney. (CTV/Ryan MacDonald)

The sign says it all. Residents of the Cottage Road neighbourhood in Sydney’s south end have taken it upon themselves to try and get drivers to slow down.

At Cottage Road and Christopher Crescent, a sign that reads “This is a stop sign!” has been placed below the intersection’s stop sign.

“I think it’s funny. I think it’s hilarious,” said Sherry Fogarty, who lives nearby.

What Fogarty and her neighbours are less amused by is when vehicles roll through stop signs – or simply don’t stop at all.

“During the overnight hours, you can hear them just buzzing up speeding like crazy,” Fogarty said.

“I live right close to that stop sign and there are people flying down this road at 60, 70, 80 kilometres an hour and I’ve even seen them going side by side, racing,” added another neighbour, who identified himself only as ‘Frank.’

Like most residential areas, the speed limit in the area is 50 km/h.

Some of the people who live nearby say that over the years, they have contacted police and other officials about the issue, but the dangerous driving continues.

“It’s been going on for years, it’s not like it started yesterday,” Frank said.

Derek Mombourquette, the Liberal MLA for the area, has a sign posted in the neighbourhood asking people to slow down but said it’s a more widespread problem.

“We hear this all over the city,” Mombourquette said.

With school out for summer, he added that safety on the streets is even more important.

“If there is a concern in your neighbourhood, reach out to your elected representatives whether it’s municipal or provincial,” Mombourquette said. “We’re always in contact with the local authorities to talk about speed concerns in neighbourhoods. It’s something that matters to all of us.”

While Cottage Road area residents would like to see more tickets handed out, their main concern is the possibility of a serious collision.

“That someone is going to have an accident there and be hurt seriously, and when it does happen it’s going to be too late,” Frank said.

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