Police watch to see whether vehicles stop at the new Glasgow St traffic lights. Photo / Trevor Scarrow
Police watch to see whether vehicles stop at the new Glasgow St traffic lights. Photo / Trevor Scarrow
It's only a matter of time before there is a nasty accident where Te Tuaiwi shared pathway crosses busy Glasgow St, Whanganui acting road policing Sergeant Trevor Scarrow says.
Cyclist Margi Keys has raised the issue of vehicles not stopping for cyclists and pedestrians at the central Whanganui lights, andExcel Wanganui office administrator Jess McKenzie sees near-misses daily from her nearby office.
McKenzie said she felt nervous when she heard the crossing buzzer go, and she took an afternoon break as school finished.
"I can't sit here after school when the kids are crossing," she said.
In the last week, Scarrow gave out two tickets to drivers who did not stop at the lights. Both were local people and said they didn't see them.
He also watched as three children pressed the button for a chance to cross, then waited until they saw cars stopping before stepping out. It saved an accident but was not ideal.
Roading police were keeping a close eye on the crossing, but they could not be there all the time, Scarrow said.
The lights went live in September after being installed, but unused, nearly a year earlier. They are in a busy area, with entrances to two supermarkets, a railway line and about 11,400 vehicles passing daily.
Scarrow wonders if more is needed. He said Whanganui District Council roading engineers had told him the design was sound and had been peer-reviewed and rigorously tested.
The council referred Whanganui Chronicle questions about the crossing to police.
Cars don't always stop for cyclists and pedestrians at the new Glasgow St lights. Photo / Bevan Conley
McKenzie, watching from across Glasgow St, said the crossing was increasingly well used. She had seen pedestrians who were puzzled by it and had had problems using it herself.
On one occasion a utility slowed to let her walk across, she sped up and the driver kept going. Drivers waiting to turn left as they exited Pak'nSave were especially likely to be distracted, she said.
People have suggested judder bars at each side of the intersection. McKenzie said it would help if drivers slowed down.
She hoped, between the council and police, the matter could be resolved.
