By LEE ROBINSON

A Monash student who is undergoing rehabilitation after being struck by two cars on the Caulfield campus has called for a safety review of the area.

Rose Montgomery was seriously injured when a car that had been parked in the Caulfield Plaza carpark, mounted the kerb and hit her as she walked on the footpath last month.

The force of the collision threw the 22 year-old into a van, which was driving in the opposite direction along Princes Drive, between the plaza and the university.

Ms Montgomery was knocked unconscious and suffered multiple broken bones and spinal injuries.

An elderly woman was charged with careless driving after its alleged she mistook the accelerator for the brake.

Ms Montgomery said a high level of foot traffic right next to a car park and main road makes the area dangerous for pedestrians.

“I do think there’s an increased risk seeing as there’s a literal car park right next to a campus where there’s obviously lots of foot traffic,” she said.

“It gets pretty dicey in busy times when pedestrians are walking around and through the area.”

Monash University student No’am Geffen lives in Caulfield and said the safety of the area needed to be improved.

“At the moment, there are cars reversing and driving around, and people walking everywhere, so it’s quite a dangerous spot. Something needs to be done,” Ms Geffen said. 

“The fact that, just as you walk outside the boundaries of Monash, there are suddenly cars (and it) can make it hard to switch over and realise that there are vehicles around and you need to be more alert,” she said.

Monash University's business support director for buildings and property Paul Barton said the incident was evidence more could be done to improve pedestrian safety. 

“The incident highlights the need to accelerate the pedestrianisation of the area,” Mr Barton said.

“The more we can separate vehicles and pedestrians, the lower the risk of incidents and injury.

“The safety of staff and students is our top priority,” he said. 

Mr Barton said university staff were aware of the dangerous intersection between Caulfield Train Station, Caulfield Plaza car park, the multi-level car park and the Monash University campus entrance. 

Monash University plans to change the entrance of the multi-level car park and modify vehicle ramps in the Caulfield Plaza car park to improve safety.

Glen Eira City Council and VicRoads are working with the university, as part of the Caulfield Station precinct growth plan, to redefine pedestrian friendly spaces, cycle and vehicle movement.