RAA names the state’s top 5 most dangerous intersections and two make the list despite multimillion-dollar government upgrades
The RAA has revealed SA’s top five most dangerous intersections and two very familiar crossroads make the list yet again despite millions of dollars worth of upgrades.
The RAA has named its five most notorious intersections in South Australia — and two of them remain on the list despite multimillion-dollar upgrades.
The Labor state government spent $3.2 million in 2013 splitting the Britannia roundabout at Kent Town into two to improve safety, yet it is still one of Adelaide’s most common casualty crash hot spots.
The motoring organisation says, on the latest available figures from the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), between 2013 and 2017 there were 237 crashes at the intersection.
Fifty of those were casualty crashes, with one person suffering serious injuries.
RAA senior road safety manager Charles Mountain said right-angled and rear-end collisions were common at the intersection because of high traffic volume.
“On average more than 60,000 vehicles negotiate the Britannia roundabout every day,” Mr Mountain said.
“The congestion, along with inattention and hesitation, are the main cause of crashes at the Britannia roundabout.”
Also on the list is Blackwood roundabout, which this year received a $3.5m upgrade — winning mixed reviews.
An Advertiser poll this week found more than half (57 per cent) of 411 respondents condemned the intended improvements as “a waste of money”.
Just over a quarter (27 per cent) believed the roundabout was improved but had “ongoing issues” and only 16 per cent said it was “significantly better”.
“Although the Blackwood roundabout was upgraded last year, it’s still one of the more challenging roundabouts to negotiate in Adelaide,” an RAA spokesman said.
“In fact, the new line-markings and shape of the roundabout are causing some confusion for motorists.”
In the five years before its makeover, there were 29 crashes, with 10 resulting in injuries requiring medical attention.
Half of the 10 casualty crashes were caused by a road-user failing to give way.
Rounding out the top five black spots are the five-way Gepps Cross intersection at Enfield, the Sturt Highway/Old Sturt Highway at Barmera and ‘Crash Corner’ — the junction of the Copper Coast Highway, Augusta Highway and Port Wakefield Rd.
The RAA says more than 400 crashes, 142 minor injuries, seven serious injuries and five deaths have been recorded at the five black spots.
The Gepps Cross intersection has a notably alarming record.
Between 2013 and 2017, 139 crashes occurred there. More than 40 of those involved casualties, with one person killed and three seriously injured.
Last year more than 3000 motorists were caught disobeying a red light or speeding by the safety cameras at the Gepps Cross intersection.
Accident black spot data for the year ending 2018 will be released in September.