By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
AHERN Road residents who say that hooning in the area is so bad they are being forced to sell their homes are not alone, with several other frustrated residents also voicing concerns on the issue.
Following the Gazette’s report last week on Ahern Road home owners taking their concerns to council, residents from various parts of the shire have voiced similar concerns.
Wishing to remain anonymous, a resident who lives on Devonia Street in Pakenham said he had a “huge issue with hoons flying by well over the already fast 70km/h signage.”
“In my street we have seven houses, and out of those houses five have young children, totalling 16 kids,” he said.
He claimed one local man rode a motorbike in a dangerous fashion, sometimes several times a day.
“As a parent of a young child I find this extremely dangerous for our children.”
Another resident, who lives on Dunbarton Drive in Pakenham, said that Bluegrass Estate was also a regular hotspot for hooning, with Dunbarton Drive, Broadhurst Road, Barrington Drive and Paramount Way all popular spots.
“The main problems occur at night and on weekends. A lot of vehicles use this area as a shortcut from the old highway, cutting through Sir Thomas Drive, Pommel Street, Dunbarton Drive and then into Broadhurst Road to get onto Racecourse Road.
“This way they avoid two sets of lights and also a regular booze bus location.”
He said that last weekend alone he witnessed two “near misses”, and believes the situations will inevitably end in an accident.
Last week The Gazette reported that residents of Ahern Road had become so frustrated by the constant hooning that they were moved to present a petition to council demanding action.
Since that report, another resident who lives on a court near Ahern Road has come forward with similar experiences.
“My court is constantly used for burn-outs and u-turns by residents who live away from the end they use for these purposes,” she wrote.
“In the wet it’s worse as they skid around dangerously. My bedroom faces the road which can be a bit scary – numerous times we’ve had a house full of burnt rubber smoke.”
A small group of residents attended last week’s council meeting to plead with councillors to act urgently on the issue, but felt their concerns had gone largely ignored.
Pakenham Senior Sergeant Nathan Prowd said that police were constantly monitoring the issue, yet driver education programs and warnings against hoon driving were not sinking in, particularly with the young male demographic.
“The unfortunate thing is that the young, male driver is far more likely to be involved in collisions causing major injuries or fatality; however the young male driver is also convinced of their own invulnerability,” he said.
“What they don’t often realize is regardless of their driving skill, they cannot account for what other people will do – the person running out in front of them or the person driving in that area that doesn’t see them coming at that pace or misjudges the distance.”
He said that the Highway Patrol was targeting several hooning hotspots within Cardinia.
“There are a number of areas which are listed and targeted by our highway patrol in relation to hoon driving.
“Any major thoroughfares through residential areas are unfortunately more prone to seeing this kind of behaviour.”
He encouraged anyone who witnesses hoon driving to contact police.
