Motorists in the Illawarra are highly critical of a move to install traffic lights at a Keira Street intersection.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This week Roads and Maritime Services started work to place traffic lights at the intersection of Keira and Springhill roads after a number of crashes.
The lights will only control traffic turning right out of Keira Street and eastbound traffic on Springhill Road.
Westbound traffic along Springhill Road will be unaffected.
A Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman said in the five years to December last year there had been seven casualty crashes at the intersection.
"Six of the seven casualty crashes ... involved a vehicle travelling south on Keira Street attempting to turn right into Springhill Road, colliding with a vehicle travelling east on Springhill Road," the spokeswoman said.
The news was not welcomed by many motorists who left comments on the Mercury's Facebook page questioning the need for the lights.
Many readers wondered how anyone could have an accident there, pointing out there is a dedicated lane on Springhill Road for traffic turning right out of Keira Street and a clear view to see oncoming traffic.
"Must be some bad drivers out there if they cannot see a car coming for 500 metres," Amber Hewson said.
"That's one of the easiest turns in the Illawarra," Clinton Down said.
"Who can't manage looking to the right?"
READ MORE: Win for worker sacked over text messages
Some wondered about the competence of drivers on the road.
"You only have to look in one direction only and get your own lane once you turn out," wrote Dain Grice.
"If you get hit there you might want to consider handing your licence in."
There were also concerns about traffic banking up along Keira Street waiting for the lights to change.
"I've always thought this was a great intersection that has the greatest flow for traffic," said Andrew Haigh.
"Putting lights in is now going to congest it even more so as the traffic will be stopped for longer than it will move."
However some who had been hit at the intersection welcomed the improved safety the lights would bring.
"I was in an accident there in March," wrote Ann Fanning.
"He didn't give way [and] went straight through. I'm still recovering."
"I've almost been in a car accident a few times due to other drivers thinking they can push through or they don't look," wrote Carlie Matheson.
Martina Duleska said she had nearly been T-boned at that intersection three times because drivers didn't look before turning.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
