Funny campaign on Fairfield’s ‘death trap’ roundabout gains viral support
A safety campaign in jest on Fairfield West’s “death trap” roundabout has gone viral after two young adults created an amusing and informative event on Facebook.
A safety campaign in jest on Fairfield West’s “death trap” roundabout has gone viral after two young adults created an amusing and informative event on Facebook.
Friends Andrew Aviet and Celeste Dao were poking fun when they created the event, ‘Circling around the Polding Street roundabout in Fairfield West’. It’s scheduled for March 26 and lists the following as its description: “Continually go around the infamous western sydney roundabout, known as the death trap. See you there x.”
But the humour must’ve touched a communal nerve. In four days, 5,600 people said they were either interested or going to the fictional event.
“I’ve crashed twice here,” said Juan Fuentes. “Don’t know what this event is about but sounds good.”
He is not alone. “Had my first accident here,” Giordano Vincenzo said.
In fact, data from the state government’s Centre for Road Safety highlights a trend. In the five years from 2013 to 2017, 76 accidents happened at the Polding St roundabout. Out of that, 14 of them resulted in “serious injury”.
Compared to the major intersection just down the road, where street lights govern Polding St and The Horsley Drive, it’s twice as many accidents. And more than three times the number of serious injuries.
Mr Aviet, an 18 year old born and raised in Fairfield, and Ms Dao, a 20 year old from Liverpool who frequents the area, said the Facebook event helped broadcast their safety warning to an audience – one that was larger than they anticipated.
“I personally don’t understand why (the Polding St roundabout) hasn’t been fixed or even attempted to be fixed considering the amount of accidents that do occur on a regular basis,” Mr Aviet said.
Few upgrades were made to the roundabout in 2015 after the NSW Government provided Fairfield City Council with a $3m grant, but the data indicates they’ve had no effect on lowering the number of accidents. The funding went to upgrading line markings, slip lanes and signage.
Mayor Frank Carbone said years had been spent campaigning the NSW Government for traffic light funding.
“While some funding was provided to make some upgrades … the RMS refused to allow the installation of traffic signals,” he said, adding the Council’s campaign remains ongoing.
The NSW Government’s Road & Maritime Services acknowledged the 2015 roadworks, but said all questions regarding the Polding St roundabout should be directed to Fairfield City Council.
Mr Aviet and Ms Dao are both students. Mr Aviet studies Speech Pathology at Macquarie University, while Ms Dao is completing a degree in Environmental Forensics at Western Sydney University.
Ms Dao said the roundabout should be replaced with traffic lights.
“I just hope a council person or politician hears these stories that the locals have, and finally upgrade the roundabout like they have been saying for a few years now,” she said.
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