Do-or-die plea for road action
Hoon drivers along the so-called "stables complex" on Barr Road in Carey Park have been a big problem for residents for about 30 years.
Frustrated residents are again demanding Bunbury City Council takes urgent action to stop hoons risking the lives of residents, who are mostly horse trainers.
Their latest petition - the third since 1998 - will be debated by councillors at tonight's council meeting.
Barr Road is often used by drivers as a short-cut between Brittain Road and Ecclestone Street and is also on a bus route.
But the cars and buses were competing with people and horses travelling to either the Bunbury Turf Club or the Bunbury Trotting Club grounds, said resident Shelley Leach.
She said a traffic island, installed in 2009, did not stop motorists from speeding.
"It is people speeding and people who really don't need to come down here," Mrs Leach said.
"The biggest issue is the horses and the vehicles are sharing the road - everybody needs to share it in a respectful way.
"They (residents) are making their living from horses and they don't need to be threatened on the road."
A council report released ahead of next week's meeting revealed that in a 15-day period, 1072 vehicles used Barr Road and about 30 per cent of drivers were driving above the 50kmh limit.
This adds to two minor crashes and reports of drivers hitting letterboxes and damaging front lawns in past few months.
Residents have mixed opinions on their preferred solution to the problem - some want the road closed and others want raised platforms installed as part of the traffic island to slow down drivers.
The council could also install three sets of speed cushions - effectively smaller speed humps - which would cost $12,000, while it would cost $25,000 to close the road.
Mrs Leach said the council needed to take action that showed leadership on tackling hoon driving.
