Hazardous Corner

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31632, 19 March 1968, Page 1

Hazardous Corner

As part of a plan to improve the Barbadoes Street-Worcester Street intersection, which was said to be hazardous, the City Council last evening agreed on an approach to the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) on the possibility of a new road restriction.

It is a sign indicating to a road user that he must stop his vehicle, but after doing so may proceed in accordance with the right-hand rule.

The council agreed that a flashing amber light be installed at the intersection for a trial of 12 months, and that the intersection be improved by additional road markings and improved vision by more restrictions on the parking of vehicles close to the corners. Mr J F. Thomas, the Traffic Superintendent, reported that there had been 41 injuries at the intersection from 1964 to 1967. There had been 58 persons injured and two killed. So far this year there had been four injury accidents and one had resulted in fatal injuries. Stop or give-way signs would create unacceptable delays to motorists and increase speeds on the road free from control, Mr Thomas said. The

long delays to large traffic volumes ruled out the possibility of this form of control. Traffic lights could and had been installed at intersections with high accident rates, but to control all would be out of the question. Manual control was only practical when flows

were reasonably high. Only six of 41 accidents had occurred during hours when manual control would have been possible. Mr Thomas said the new suggested sign would reduce approach speed. A motorist would be required to stop his vehicle clear of any point of conflict and then be able to enter and cross the intersection in accordance with the right-hand rule. If there was an accident it was improbable that there would be personal injury. The use of flashing amber lights suspended over 'he intersection would draw the attention of motorists to the need to proceed with caution. Some lights were used overseas at “accident-prone intersections.”