current standard in the Maitland area.

This comes after the NRMA revealed one in five school zone signs have not yet been upgraded to comply with the Australian standard, despite the Roads and Maritime Services starting the upgrade in 2009.

Fluorescent yellow signs are supposed to replace older,

yellow signs, many that have faded or been covered in

graffiti.

Five school zones at Woodberry, Thornton, Ashtonfield and East Maitland have the new signs with flashing lights in place.

But one of the older signs at Maitland Christian School is hidden behind a tree.

Ms Parker said she would lodge a request with the Roads and Maritime Services to follow up on the visibility of the school zone signs at Maitland Christian School and would investigate any others that needed urgent attention.

She said others would be replaced in due course.

“There was a systematic replacement program in place and the RMS is rolling them out,” she said.

NRMA motoring and services group chief executive Tony Stuart said he was pleased there had been progress since the last audit, but one in five unsafe signs was unacceptable.

“Many signs we tested were way below the specifications; some are so old that the yellow colour has almost completely faded away,” he said.

“Others have been upgraded to the fluorescent lime colour we endorse, but are of little use hidden behind trees.”

Ms Parker said the next phase in the upgrades had been given the go ahead.

She said she expected an announcement to be made soon.

“I’m hopeful there should be some more flashing lights in Maitland,” she said.

“It is really important motorists are aware of school zones.

“Signs must be visible.”