Family of Jo-Ann Thwaites frustrated at policy makers stalling on deadly crossing fix

THE family of a woman hit and killed by a truck at a northern beaches crossing say policy makers are dragging their heels on a solution to make it safe.

Johnathan, Cassie, Jo-Ann and Nicholas Thwaites on Mother’s Day.

• Jo-Ann Thwaites’ sons call for traffic fix
• Stop signs fail to deter drivers at deadly intersection
• Manly Daily audit: Drivers flout law at killer corner
• Hit and run accused ‘laughed it off’

THE  family of Jo-Ann Thwaites say policy makers are dragging their heels on a solution to make safe the dangerous crossing where their mother died.

It comes two months since the 60-year-old was hit by a truck and killed at the corner of Condamine St and Old Pittwater Rd, in Brookvale.

Now the family has repeated their plea for a set of traffic lights across the entire­ intersection as the only thing to stop Mrs Thwaites’ death being in vain.

Her youngest son, Nicholas Thwaites was furious at the lack of action from the Roads and Maritime Services.

Family photo of Major Anthony Alan Thwaites and wife Jo-Ann Thwaites.

“It is frustrating, what did my mum die for? She was the widow of a long-serving war veteran,” Mr Thwaites said.

“What has she died for? For them to just sit on their hands and wait for it to happen again?”

Mr Thwaites still makes the agonising journey past the corner regularly. He criticised the Roads and Maritime Services’ decision to install just a stop sign.

“The stop sign is absolutely useless and counter productive … It is hopeless,” he said.

“It hasn’t solved any problems, it has made more problems.

“Is this stop sign just revenue raising?

“Mum’s friends and family are calling on the policy makers to take urgent action­ on this, because it is not only us that is pi**** off, it is the whole community,” he said.

Mr Thwaites and his brother Johnathan are still trying to collect themselves. The younger son had been living at home with his mum while he tried to build an electrician business.

But has put his business aspirations on hold while preparing the house for sale.

Stops signs installed at the corner. Picture: Phil Rogers.

His father Major Anthony Allan Thwaites — who served in the military for 40 years — died three years ago: “We have had to sort through 20 years’ worth of memories and gear and you can imagine how hard that is,” he said.

Mr Thwaites comments come after the Manly Daily conducted an audit last week and found 73 of 100 cars broke the law at the stop sign.

Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard and Premier Mike Baird have both indicated they would like traffic lights installed at the site.

A spokeswoman for Mr Baird said: “Immediate work was carried out to install a stop sign, resurface the road, and improve line markings at the crossing.

“Traffic lights remain the preferred option and work is being undertaken by RMS to work out how the intersection­ could be reconfigured.”