This intersection is so confusing a school principal directs the traffic himself

At the intersection of Darebin Boulevard, Hickford and Borrie streets in Reservoir, Melbourne, confusion reigns. A primary school principal has taken matters into his own hands, stepping into the role of traffic director to ensure student safety. The situation has escalated to such an extent that the school's principal, Steve Stafford, has spent nearly a year advocating for improved measures, including additional supervision and electronic signage, all to mitigate the dangers posed by the chaotic intersection. The intersection, once home to a roundabout removed in April 2025, now features four zebra crossings and a raised platform, yet clarity remains elusive. Drivers face conflicting signals, some brake abruptly, others accelerate recklessly, while pedestrians encounter signage that seems to point in different directions. Parents and students alike express concern over the growing risk. Christine Speziale, a parent whose daughter, Indika Kelly, regularly crosses the street on her bike, described the situation as alarming. “We often ride our bikes,” Speziale said. “There are a lot of kids who go to and from school on their own.” Indika herself voiced fears, stating, “I don’t want anyone getting hurt. My friend almost got hit by a car a few weeks ago.” Stafford recounted how the intersection reopened in May 2025 without proper markings or signage, forcing him to halt his vehicle and direct traffic manually. “I avoid driving through there on the way home,” he said. “You’ll have cars staring at each other, not knowing what to do.” He noted instances where parents had to physically guide their children across the street to avoid potential collisions. “We’ve had people who’ve had to push their kids across when cars have gone through to avoid being hit,” he added. “I’m genuinely surprised there hasn’t been a serious injury.” In response to these concerns, Speziale and her daughter launched separate petitions seeking an independent review and upgrade of the intersection. Speziale’s petition targets the local council, while her daughter mobilized classmates at the school located on one corner of the intersection. Together, they have gathered over 350 signatures, 250 from Speziale’s petition and another 100 from the school. The council, however, maintains that the removal of the roundabout was necessary because it failed to prioritize pedestrian safety. Instead, they installed the raised platform and zebra crossings, which underwent a safety audit in March 2026 to confirm compliance with design and safety standards. Looking ahead, the intersection is set to become even more congested with the opening of a 99-place kindergarten on the corner of Hickford and Borrie streets in October. The footpath adjacent to the kindergarten connects directly to two of the intersection’s zebra crossings, increasing the number of pedestrians navigating the area. Parent Cathy Pers, who crossed the street with her five-year-old daughter, expressed surprise at the decision to remove the roundabout. “I don’t know why [they did],” she said, noting that initially, people appeared to understand the rules better. Darebin Council has since introduced a new road safety investment framework, emphasizing roads within 150 meters of kindergartens. On Tuesday, the council finalized plans for upgrades across the Darebin area, including the installation of additional raised safety platforms along Hickford Street, between Cheddar Road and Borrie Street. These improvements aim to enhance safety in the school zone. The rollout of these upgrades is expected to span the next four to six years.