Adelaide’s 10 most dangerous intersections revealed, but some aren’t receiving safety funding
EXCLUSIVE: Our city’s most dangerous intersections have been revealed, but the majority are not receiving any upgrades to make them safer, new figures show.
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ADELAIDE’S most dangerous intersections have been revealed, but the majority are not receiving any upgrades to make them safer, new figures show.
Of the 10 intersections with the highest number of crashes causing injury or death, seven were located in the northern suburbs, two in the north-west and only one in the east.
The worse intersection was at South and Torrens roads, accounting for 54 casualty crashes between 2011 and 2015, figures obtained by advertiser.com.au show.
Thankfully, this intersection is being upgraded as part of the $896 million Torrens to Torrens Transit program, which includes the sixth most dangerous junction of South Rd and Manton St.
However, the second most dangerous intersection at Main North Rd and Grand Junction Rd continues to await “for improvements in the future’’, according to the Transport Department.
There were 53 casualty crashes at this junction in the same period, latest figures showed.
Previous figures obtained by advertiser.com.au showed the Main North and Grand Junction roads intersection was also the second worse in 2006.
The RAA said this long-running record of high-ranking casualty crashes meant work to improve the safety and traffic flow of this key intersection was overdue.
“That’s one intersection we have determined needs to have options investigated to improve safety, such as introducing grade separation, which would also improve traffic flow,’’ RAA spokesman Charles Mountain said.
“Government’s going forward also need to finish the north-south corridor, which will move traffic over from Main North Rd,’’ he said.
This, Mr Mountain said, would help reduce traffic volumes and crashes at the Main North Rd junctions with Regency and McIntyre roads, which are also in the top 10 list.
A department spokesman said of the 10 “intersections identified in this list, one was upgraded in 2013 (Britannia Roundabout), three are already earmarked for upgrades and the State Government’s Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan identifies the remainder for improvements in the future’’.
“The State Government is investing more than half-a-billion dollars on road maintenance and safety over four years, including an additional $110 million announced in the 2015-16 State Budget,’’ he said.
Department figures also show the two most common crashes at intersections involved a driver making an error of judgment when turning right and rear-end crashes, typically due to driver inattention.
Mr Mountain urged drives to show caution at intersections.
“Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and when turning right watch for late runners when lights are changing,’’ he said.
