EDITOR – The article following up on the accident at the intersection of Deodar and ZK Mathews is misleading.
I live diagonally opposite No 151 and both corner properties have, over the years, been subject to damage or close calls when accidents occur, as invariably a vehicle mounts the pavement at these corners.I was not consulted, but the owner of No 151 and I agree that traffic lights are not required. What are absolutely necessary are barrier rails at both corners. There is no objection to the installation of flashing beacons and signs to ensure that drivers are aware of the stop streets. Traffic lights will not prevent accidents. Drivers will still overshoot the demarked lines as they now do at the stop lines.
On my corner, the pavement is frequently used by families walking children. If one of these groups is wiped out it will be far more traumatic than the loss of a driver in an accident. The intersection is not excessively busy, and seldom has more than one or two cars backed up at the stop streets even at busy times. ZK Matthews Road has been turned into a freeway due to changes in the routing of traffic in Umbilo Road and Gale Street and the unnecessary blocking of access from Berea Road into Lena Ahrens Rjoad, but the safety aspects have not been upgraded.
Trevor Main
Glenwood
