Fatality was waiting to happen

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Fatality was waiting to happen

THE crossroads of the Bass Highway and the Leongatha South-Outtrim and Roughead roads are a nightmare for Leongatha South residents.

That’s why it is no wonder people from out of town have a tough time coping with the intersection when they have never seen it before.

In the wake of the tragic fatality that occurred at the intersection on Sunday, January 22, people are demanding more be done to improve driver safety and prevent further accidents.

“As a user of the roads, I think it’s ludicrous that there’s no signs that there’s a cross roads coming from either direction.

If there were cross roads signs there, it would give an indication to the driver,” Leongatha South resident Fred Morrison said.

Currently, there is no indication whatsoever on the Bass Highway to warn drivers of the upcoming intersection and potential hazard area.

“It was a tragedy waiting to happen,” Mr Morrison said of the fatality.

After a number of serious accidents at the intersection over several years, and countless close calls, it is time the intersection was changed so that drivers can have the best possible chance at avoiding unnecessary risks.

“I understand VicRoads reviews such intersections after bad accidents, and there have been a number at this particular locality,” Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien said.

“This may require the installation of turning lanes to allow through traffic to continue unimpeded.

“Unfortunately the Labor government has cut the roads budget, so there is less available to undertake these works.

However, there is funding through the TAC and the government and VicRoads should certainly be looking at that.”

Driver error is always an issue on the roads and that cannot be avoided, Leongatha South resident Gordon Vagg said.

“There should be a turning lane coming from both ways and there should at least be signs saying caution cross-roads ahead and what the roads are,” he said.

“When you’re sitting in the middle of the road, you feel very vulnerable. People can come up so quickly. Cars can sit in the gully and you can’t see them.

“You have to drive very defensively out here.”

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Posted by on Jan 31 2017. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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