Last week, the Courier spoke to two school crossing guards, who told of the abuse and danger they faced every day from aggressive and speeding motorists, and the steps Peel Traffic officers were taking to try to stem the 100 drivers a day caught breaking the law in school zones.
On Monday, June 24, about 3.10pm, Stacy Brooksbank (40) had just picked up his daughter from Living Waters Lutheran College in Warnbro and was about to pull out from Swallowtail Parade on to Grand Ocean Boulevard when he noticed a lightcoloured modern Landrover Discovery speeding towards him.
‘To me it looked like he was going about twice the speed limit, about 80km/h,’ he said.
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READ NOW‘As he drove past, I had my window down and I made a ‘slow down’ gesture with my hand and also mouthed it.
‘As they went past me my daughter mentioned that the passenger was yelling at me, but I didn’t think much of it.’
When he reached the intersection of Grand Ocean Boulevard and Warnbro Sound Avenue, the other vehicle’s passenger got out of the car and began abusing Mr Brooksbank.
‘I said, ‘mate, it’s a school zone’ and he punched me through the window,’ he said.
The man got back into the car and the vehicle drove off.
‘You’ve got to consider other road users, it’s everyone’s road so we need to act like it,’ Mr Brooksbank said.’
‘Children do take risks, and you’ve got to be aware of that.’
Mr Brooksbank called 131 444 and local police. His assailant is described as Caucasian, about 175cm tall, heavily built with cropped hair, and tattoos, including one that went up his neck.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, which left Mr Brooksbank with a black eye, is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.