Video taken by Dunedin cycling group Spokes shows vehicles
failing to come to a complete halt despite a Stop sign at a
cycling black-spot near the Dunedin Railway Station.
The sign was installed, and a lane of the road blocked off,
at the corner of Castle St and Anzac Ave after a cyclist was
killed by a truck in November 2011.
Spokes says: "To be clear, most cars come to a complete stop
when there is oncoming traffic in the left lane they are
turning into.
"The problems shown in the video occur when they don't see an
oncoming vehicle and many continue to roll through the stop
sign.
"Motorists often don't cognitively process that a cyclist is
in the way and thus keep rolling. This type of intersection
design intimidates cyclists, expecting the worse."
The NZTA wants to make the current temporary arrangements
permanent but Spokes wants a cul-de-sac created..
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There is a safety issue - when vehicles roll through this
intersection they are breaking the law. If they have not been
as observant as they ought then an accident may ensue. The
driver of the logging truck on 14 November 2011 didn't see
the cyclist - that cyclist is now dead. It breaks my heart
every time this topic reappears in the ODT. I would like to
issue a plea to the Dunedin Police for an officer to take the
five minute walk from their station on Great King Street with
a huge supply of infringement notices in hand and to sit down
at this intersection enforcing the law. I would speculate
that the resulting fine revenue would more than cover a days
wages. Please don't wait for another death before taking
action.
The police need to start doing a blitz on this intersection.
After giving out a few hundred fines people will start to get
the picture. Even this video footage should be enough
evidence to fine the cars/trucks in it.
Submitted by Menounderstand on Tue, 05/03/2013 - 10:24pm.
... are meant to indicate very poor visibility where you have
to stop to ensure the way is clear before pulling out and
neither Anzac Avenue or the airport have that problem. It
just points to a very cheap fix to a real problem which then
gets put on to the Police to resolve leading to an
anti-enforcement feeling and lack of respect/compliance with
stop signs that actually have some meaning and relevance to
road safety.
Submitted by Slapheid on Tue, 05/03/2013 - 8:36pm.
Letmesee: I agree, stupid humans do stupid things all the
time, irrespective of whether they are on a bike, or in a
car, truck, hovercraft or just pushing a supermarket trolley.
Let's be careful out there people!
Submitted by bp_williams on Tue, 05/03/2013 - 7:17pm.
Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are completely stopped
behind a car that is stopped at a stop sign and you can see
the way is clear from your (stopped) position, that you do
not have to make a complete stop at the stop sign
also?? Maybe I am wrong, as this would be very hard to
police.
Its not only the Anzac Ave turn that is dangerous to
cyclists, and other drivers. Have a look at the DCC buses
that stay in the straight ahead lane at the Hanover
St./George St. intersection and then suddenly turn left into
George St. crossing over the left turning only lane? Bus
length is no excuse. Buses turning left from Hillside Road
stay in the left lane prior to turning left for example.
Trucks turning left at many corners off the one-way system
also regularly cut across the correct left turning lane then
swing over the centre line against oncoming traffic, much to
the peril of cyclists and drivers who are in the correct lane
for turning. Where are the Police? Never seen out of their
cars watching traffic. No wonder they have a fitness problem!
How many times have you seen a cyclist disregard stop signs -
and red traffic lights for that matter? I see cyclists
showing the same disregard for the road rules on as many
occasions, if not more.
While I have some sympathy for cyclists as they usually end
up worse off in the event of a collision, I think they need
to focus on obeying the road rules themself rather than
pointing the finger at motorists.
Submitted by letmesee on Tue, 05/03/2013 - 1:49pm.
I use this intersection often and am always astounded with
the number of people who roll through it... on another
note... I use Portsmouth Drive often as well and am astounded
at the number of cyclists who ride their bikes on Portmouth
Drive in peak traffic (weaving in and out of the traffic!)
when there is a designated lane... go figure...
Submitted by everlast on Tue, 05/03/2013 - 11:54am.
Look how many cars and trucks do not come to a complete stop.
And they have no excuse, as there are two big, bold 'STOP'
signs on either side. I hope all the vehicles that are
breaking the law get infringements sent out.
Submitted by minnie me on Tue, 05/03/2013 - 8:22am.
The Airport turn off turning on to SH1 heading north at
Allanton is the same. Plenty of vehicles just blast straight
thru. Police might be better deployed monitoring this
spot and Anzac Ave @ the railway station than
breath testing checkpoints.
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