3 July 2013

The Tharwa drive traffic lights near Lanyon shops

| harvyk1
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As anyone who has been near the Lanyon shops in the past few months will know, they have put up a set of pedestrian traffic lights between the retirement village and the shop themselves.

The question I have is how many accidents will it take before those traffic lights are removed? Within the space of 50 meters (according to google maps), a person exits the roundabout and instantly has to deal with traffic lights, meaning that a person needs to pay attention to two intersections at once.

Just last night I was again faced with the unenviable choice of run a red light (and hit a pedestrian) or try and stop and pray the person behind me didn’t run up the back of me, a hotted up holden ute with a young guy behind the wheel who only just managed to pull the car up in time.

Surely if an elderly person is capable of walking the 700 meter round trip from the retirement village to the shops, they are capable of walking the extra 60 or so meters required (again measured in google maps) to move the traffic lights down to the intersection of Tharwa Drive and Norman Lindsay Street to make that a far safer place (and to make that intersection safer as well).

Finally whilst I’m ranting, the distance between the pedestrian crossing and the start of the 80 zone needs to be reviewed. Very few people actually do 60 (and those who do get tailgated). There are many other roads in the ACT which allow people to cross them despite been 80 zones.

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Those stupid traffic lights have been there no less than 9 months, is the old farts home even finished yet? I havent seen any old codgers using said crossing to stroll over for what may be their last trip to the shops yet.

And lastly, pulling out of Norman Lindsay isnt an issue, ive never had any problems..

But you do get the odd wanker who will pull out when he/she shouldnt, then proceed to deliberately accelerate at a snails pace because they are pretentious lowlifes.

p1 said :

KB1971 said :

It is still russian roulette trying to turn out of Norman Lindsay in the afternoon. People spear out of that roundabout so fast they are doing 80 by the time they pass the servo.

True. And yet I exited the round about and approached the intersection at about 50km/h a week ago, on a motorcycle, when someone started to pull out directly in front of me. Some people seem unable to identify a vehicle approaching and adequately judge its speed at the best of times. They realised I was there and stopped about half way across the intersection, and some sudden braking and a quick swerve saw me safely round them, but historically it isn’t a good corner for bikes.

The road as a whole would be vastly improved by extending the median strip across the intersection and forcing traffic to go up to the round a bout and turn.

Yes, left turn only. If you want to go right, go back past Corks.

KB1971 said :

It is still russian roulette trying to turn out of Norman Lindsay in the afternoon. People spear out of that roundabout so fast they are doing 80 by the time they pass the servo.

True. And yet I exited the round about and approached the intersection at about 50km/h a week ago, on a motorcycle, when someone started to pull out directly in front of me. Some people seem unable to identify a vehicle approaching and adequately judge its speed at the best of times. They realised I was there and stopped about half way across the intersection, and some sudden braking and a quick swerve saw me safely round them, but historically it isn’t a good corner for bikes.

The road as a whole would be vastly improved by extending the median strip across the intersection and forcing traffic to go up to the round a bout and turn.

harvyk1 said :

Tooks said :

I bet if you FOI ACT police you’ll find there have been no crashes there since those traffic lights have been put up.

As the traffic lights have only recently gone in, you are probably right.

I would like to ask, how many people here who are condemning me as a bad driver (btw, my record says otherwise) have actually been through that round-about, especially during peak hour?

I’m not going to deny that there are many other examples of difficult to navigate situations out there. The thing I want to know is why can’t potential black spots be called out as potential black spots before they start claiming lives? Are we only allowed to start questioning an area’s safety after accidents happen? Can’t we say “look, I think this particular area has the potential to cause accidents, how about we look at alternatives to make it safer” rather than simply saying to such people “shit happens, if you can’t deal with it get off the roads”.

I seem to remember that people on this site where more than happy with a certain member who successfully campaigned on speed limits.

Every day, I have more of a problem with the arsemuppets who fly through there at high speed and dont give way. The way I see it, if you approach the roundabout at a safe speed, you should carry that speed through the traffic lights & once you are past the built up area then get back up to 80.

The 60 limits have not really done anything to slow people down IMO. It is still russian roulette trying to turn out of Norman Lindsay in the afternoon. People spear out of that roundabout so fast they are doing 80 by the time they pass the servo.

RE black spots, you need evidence. Blakc spots become black spots because there is evidence of danger. At the moment you have hearsay of driver innatention.

caf said :

Even if the traffic lights weren’t there, you’d have to be prepared to stop anyway, because there could be anything obstructing the road at that location.

That is true, there could be anything obstructing the road, and it’s not entirely unheard of for there to be roo’s crossing that section of Tharwa drive. That said, does that then excuse putting in lights which IMHO have the potential to make that stretch of road dangerous?

caf said :

It’s impossible to distinguish between a good driver and a lucky driver on record alone.

I’ll concede with that, although I don’t think my been a good or bad driver should detract from the subject at hand, which is was the placement of those lights a good idea or not?

Even if the traffic lights weren’t there, you’d have to be prepared to stop anyway, because there could be anything obstructing the road at that location.

Perhaps a set of “traffic signals on side road” signs on the approaches to the roundabout would be a good mitigation, perhaps with those lights that flash when the lights are red or about to go red.

harvyk1 said :

I would like to ask, how many people here who are condemning me as a bad driver (btw, my record says otherwise) have actually been through that round-about, especially during peak hour?

It’s impossible to distinguish between a good driver and a lucky driver on record alone.

harvyk1 said :

Tooks said :

I bet if you FOI ACT police you’ll find there have been no crashes there since those traffic lights have been put up.

As the traffic lights have only recently gone in, you are probably right.

I would like to ask, how many people here who are condemning me as a bad driver (btw, my record says otherwise) have actually been through that round-about, especially during peak hour?

I’m not going to deny that there are many other examples of difficult to navigate situations out there. The thing I want to know is why can’t potential black spots be called out as potential black spots before they start claiming lives? Are we only allowed to start questioning an area’s safety after accidents happen? Can’t we say “look, I think this particular area has the potential to cause accidents, how about we look at alternatives to make it safer” rather than simply saying to such people “shit happens, if you can’t deal with it get off the roads”.

I seem to remember that people on this site where more than happy with a certain member who successfully campaigned on speed limits.

They’ve been operating for several months, haven’t they? Like I said, not a great place for them, but they are only pedestrian lights so are green most of the time anyway. They can be seen for a couple of hundred metres before the roundabout. I can’t really see the big issue. Having said that, I may be proven wrong and it may become a little black spot. I doubt it though.

harvyk1 said :

Tooks said :

I bet if you FOI ACT police you’ll find there have been no crashes there since those traffic lights have been put up.

As the traffic lights have only recently gone in, you are probably right.

I would like to ask, how many people here who are condemning me as a bad driver (btw, my record says otherwise) have actually been through that round-about, especially during peak hour?

I’m not going to deny that there are many other examples of difficult to navigate situations out there. The thing I want to know is why can’t potential black spots be called out as potential black spots before they start claiming lives? Are we only allowed to start questioning an area’s safety after accidents happen? Can’t we say “look, I think this particular area has the potential to cause accidents, how about we look at alternatives to make it safer” rather than simply saying to such people “shit happens, if you can’t deal with it get off the roads”.

I seem to remember that people on this site where more than happy with a certain member who successfully campaigned on speed limits.

They’ve been up for several months haven’t they?

Tooks said :

I bet if you FOI ACT police you’ll find there have been no crashes there since those traffic lights have been put up.

As the traffic lights have only recently gone in, you are probably right.

I would like to ask, how many people here who are condemning me as a bad driver (btw, my record says otherwise) have actually been through that round-about, especially during peak hour?

I’m not going to deny that there are many other examples of difficult to navigate situations out there. The thing I want to know is why can’t potential black spots be called out as potential black spots before they start claiming lives? Are we only allowed to start questioning an area’s safety after accidents happen? Can’t we say “look, I think this particular area has the potential to cause accidents, how about we look at alternatives to make it safer” rather than simply saying to such people “shit happens, if you can’t deal with it get off the roads”.

I seem to remember that people on this site where more than happy with a certain member who successfully campaigned on speed limits.

Anyone who has a prang at those traffic lights or even has a near miss, is an incompetent driver. The lights can be seen for hundreds of metres before the roundabout. Speed on the roundabout should be no more than about 50-55kmh. Yes, it is a strange place to put them and obviously not ideal, but really, it’s not difficult.

I bet if you FOI ACT police you’ll find there have been no crashes there since those traffic lights have been put up.

harvyk1 said :

KB1971 said :

Why did you need to speed up enough to be in that situation anyway? Did you fly through the roundabout as well giving the guy in the ute the incoreect impression?

The point at which the lights turned orange was just as I was exiting the roundabout, the guy in the ute was most likely looking at the traffic coming from box hill ave to make sure they had stopped, so it is entirely reasonable for him to be looking at the left of the roundabout (where the danger typically comes from) rather than completely focused on the car in front. How often is it that on leaving a roundabout from a direction that was entirely clear on entering the roundabout, that direction is now blocked with cars with no real warning. (it was dark, so it was hard to actually see ppl at the traffic lights, esp as they where in dark clothing)

.

Its quite common, just not in Canberra. brisbane for instance used to have a large roundabout underneath the freeway underpass at the end of the airport road, 100m after that there was a set of traffic lights for Nudgeee Road. They have now removed that paritcular roundabout because they completley redesigned the freeway system but prior to that it was a busy intersection with no more problems than anything else in the area.

I could name a number of other roundabouts in the Brisbane area that have more than 4 roads leading from them or traffic lights in places you would not expect.

& then there is hook turns in Melbourne, nowhere near as hard as people make them out to be.

These lights are really not that hard, the locals just need to slow down.

KB1971 said :

I say make it a 40 zone & put speed humps in to make it safe. Norman lindsay has already claimed one life.

*All* roundabout approaches should be controlled by speedhumps, except for very large roundabouts. People fly through roundabouts like it’s some sort of race. It’s dangerous.

No question it would be preferable to be rammed up the arse rather than run a red light and emulate Monfries(albeit at a greatly reduced speed).Unless i’m mistaken are you also suggesting that there are pedestrian crossings located in 80 km/h zones and if so where exactly?

Just one more thing in the Queen’s English it’s metres not meters 🙂

KB1971 said :

Why did you need to speed up enough to be in that situation anyway? Did you fly through the roundabout as well giving the guy in the ute the incoreect impression?

The point at which the lights turned orange was just as I was exiting the roundabout, the guy in the ute was most likely looking at the traffic coming from box hill ave to make sure they had stopped, so it is entirely reasonable for him to be looking at the left of the roundabout (where the danger typically comes from) rather than completely focused on the car in front. How often is it that on leaving a roundabout from a direction that was entirely clear on entering the roundabout, that direction is now blocked with cars with no real warning. (it was dark, so it was hard to actually see ppl at the traffic lights, esp as they where in dark clothing)

Madam Cholet said :

It’s my understanding that the speed limit on a roundabout is that of the road that precedes it – therefore the run up to this few metres before the lights is technically 80 unless the signage has been changed as you exit the roundabout? I hadn’t noticed this, but then again was not looking for it.

It turns into a 60 zone just before the roundabout, so technically the entire roundabout is a 60 zone as all roads leading to it are 60, of course even 60 is too fast to be doing around that roundabout, esp when it’s busy.

Madam Cholet said :

It’s my understanding that the speed limit on a roundabout is that of the road that precedes it – therefore the run up to this few metres before the lights is technically 80 unless the signage has been changed as you exit the roundabout? I hadn’t noticed this, but then again was not looking for it.

Of course, anyone hurtling round a roundabout at 80 deserves all they get, but then again, this is Canberra.

And before I get blasted for my thinking on the speed limit, I heard the polis man who used to be on the 666 Drive show say this exact thing.

I has been reduced to 60 before entering the roundabout due to the development and the traffic lights.

Madam Cholet4:59 pm 03 Jul 13

It’s my understanding that the speed limit on a roundabout is that of the road that precedes it – therefore the run up to this few metres before the lights is technically 80 unless the signage has been changed as you exit the roundabout? I hadn’t noticed this, but then again was not looking for it.

Of course, anyone hurtling round a roundabout at 80 deserves all they get, but then again, this is Canberra.

And before I get blasted for my thinking on the speed limit, I heard the polis man who used to be on the 666 Drive show say this exact thing.

harvyk1 said :

troll-sniffer said :

The rant of the incompetent once again. Listen sunshine, if you can’t drive well enough to pull up for a set of lights in 50 metres, then ffs hand your licence in with a note to say you’re sorry, you’ve realised you’re incompetent and you’ll walk or ride everywhere from now on. Don’t like that idea? Then ffs learn h9ow to drive to the standard expected, nay demanded of drivers on our roads. As for the bogan ute behind you… it’s his responsibility to drive carefully enough not to run up your backside, not yours.

I know it’s the bogan utes responsibility not to drive up my backside, that said if he does I am still in a massive world of hurt (both metaphorically and potentially literally).

But hey, I know, let’s never question stupid decisions made by road designers, because you know dealing with their stupid decisions is just part of driving, and when they do something which makes a situation more dangerous the response should never be “is this really a good idea?”.

Why did you need to speed up enough to be in that situation anyway? Did you fly through the roundabout as well giving the guy in the ute the incoreect impression?

Seriously, the traffic lights are not that far from the intersection, you should not be going that fast to nearly cause an accident if you ahve to stop (not the norm for this roundabout, peopl in the Lanyon Valley seem hell bent on negotiating it as fast as they can).

On the underpass thing, yes there are two, one under Box Hill & one under Lanyon…….the one under Woodcick is a long way away from the school and the other one on the other side of the servo is quite steep and I would imagine that an elderly person may have issues negotiating it.

it is quite hard at times to pull out of Norman Lindsay becaus people dont slow down out of the roundabout.

I say make it a 40 zone & put speed humps in to make it safe. Norman lindsay has already claimed one life.

troll-sniffer said :

The rant of the incompetent once again. Listen sunshine, if you can’t drive well enough to pull up for a set of lights in 50 metres, then ffs hand your licence in with a note to say you’re sorry, you’ve realised you’re incompetent and you’ll walk or ride everywhere from now on. Don’t like that idea? Then ffs learn h9ow to drive to the standard expected, nay demanded of drivers on our roads. As for the bogan ute behind you… it’s his responsibility to drive carefully enough not to run up your backside, not yours.

I know it’s the bogan utes responsibility not to drive up my backside, that said if he does I am still in a massive world of hurt (both metaphorically and potentially literally).

But hey, I know, let’s never question stupid decisions made by road designers, because you know dealing with their stupid decisions is just part of driving, and when they do something which makes a situation more dangerous the response should never be “is this really a good idea?”.

troll-sniffer3:45 pm 03 Jul 13

The rant of the incompetent once again. Listen sunshine, if you can’t drive well enough to pull up for a set of lights in 50 metres, then ffs hand your licence in with a note to say you’re sorry, you’ve realised you’re incompetent and you’ll walk or ride everywhere from now on. Don’t like that idea? Then ffs learn h9ow to drive to the standard expected, nay demanded of drivers on our roads. As for the bogan ute behind you… it’s his responsibility to drive carefully enough not to run up your backside, not yours.

Madam Cholet3:36 pm 03 Jul 13

These lights are truly an oddity. I’ve just returned home from Lanyon shopping centre (my son loves the $2 shop there), and I noted a ute fly onto the roundabout towards the lights – which were green, although how would he know they weren’t going to change or that a school child might run out. I reckon the oldies could manage to get to the underpass which is just a stones throw from the lights. As you say, it’s not like they wouldn’t have trekked already just to get to the lights.

I don’t live down that end of town, but reckon that at peak hour in the late arvo that these lights would have traffic backing up across the roundabout if there was a decent pedestrian flow needing to cross.

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