POLICE have urged drivers to pay attention at a notorious Warrnambool intersection.
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In the wake of another accident where Hider and Ardlie streets cross Raglan Parade, Sergeant Dean Greenwood conceded that “if there was a big bucket of money available” traffic lights would be a good investment.
But the real problem was “driver attention”, he said.
“A lot of traffic goes through that intersection on a daily basis and the majority gets through without any major issue,” Sergeant Greenwood said.
“Sometimes you have to put the focus back on the drivers, and for them to be responsible for their own actions.
“If people paid due care and attention and gave way when they’re supposed to and travel at the speed limit and don’t use mobile phones while they drive and don’t drink-drive or drive on drugs, then there would be less accidents.”
He said there had been at least 10 accidents there in the past five years.
A woman driving a car collided with a tip truck and trailer while attempting to cross Raglan Parade from Hider Street on Monday morning. The woman and her female passenger were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police are investigating the incident.
But Graham Pennington of Warrnambool Natural Medicine Centre, located at the intersection, said traffic lights were definitely needed.
“We’re hearing constant screeches and then we listen for the impact,” Mr Pennington said.
“It happens at least once a month. I’ve been here since 1997 and it’s been getting more and more frequent. We keep going out to see if there’s a body there – we just know there’s going to be a body one of these days.
"They’ve done lots of changes (to the intersection) but (accidents don’t) seem to be getting any less frequent. The visibility is terrible. It seems like they will only do something when there’s a death rather than do something before there’s a death.
“Traffic lights are the only solution. It’s one of the main intersections that doesn’t have traffic lights, which makes it so busy. Cars use that intersection rather than go to the lights.”
It’s not just drivers having difficulty with the intersection, Mr Pennington said.
“If you go (to the intersection) after school and watch the kids, they’re playing Russian roulette to get across there,” he said.
“There’s traffic in every direction and there are cars banked up seven or eight deep and kids running through the gaps trying to get across the road. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
“(Lowering the speed limit) may have saved lives, but it’s not stopping the impacts.”