Road sign review for Poplar Walk (From Croydon Guardian)

Road sign review for Poplar Walk

10:00am Thursday 20th July 2006 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

New road signs and markings will be introduced at an accident blackspot, Croydon Council has vowed.

Since July 2002 there have been more than 80 recorded incidents along a 600 metre stretch of road between Wellesley Road between the junction with Station Road and George Street.

The most serious, including one where a police car turned into the path of a tram in June 2004, happened after drivers wrongly attempted to turn right into Poplar Walk.

In February a tram carrying about 50 passengers hit a car which turned into its path. The driver had to be cut free from the mangled wreckage and was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

The council's traffic management committee has found that the signs might not be clear enough and that the road layout may have to be changed.

At present ahead only' signs, white arrows on a blue background, are attached to the traffic lights at the junction to warn drivers against making a right turn.

The tramway is marked with block paving laid at a slightly higher level than the road. But new measures and signs could be introduced after the committee met yesterday to discuss the report.

The council has vowed to introduce additional signs and road markings to help drivers better understand and obey the existing road rules.

Councillor Chris Wright, cabinet member for planning, environment and urban development, welcomed the decision to introduce further signage at the accident hotspot.

He said: "Regrettably there is a history of non-compliance at this location. Whether motorists are deliberately taking a chance or genuinely don't understand the signage, it is clear that the message needs to be reinforced before further incidents occur.

"While we are not keen to introduce yet more features on the street, in this case we would be failing in our responsibility if we neglected to take steps to overcome an apparent problem."

The report comes after the Croydon Guardian revealed how dozens of drivers each day were being fined after failing to follow road instructions stopping them from turning left into Poplar Walk from London Road.