Mum's fears over Halfway junction
15:55, 14 October 2011
A worried mum fears someone will be killed if motorists keep ignoring road signs.
Diane Askew lives on the corner of Lynsted and Halfway roads and is terrified drivers flouting the rules will cause an accident.
Lynsted Road has been one-way since February 2003 and can only be turned into left from Halfway Road.
Drivers are not supposed to turn right into it from Halfway Road or enter it at all from Belmont Road.
This means no one should turn out of Lynsted on to Halfway.
However, mum-of-two Diane says drivers continually ignore the no entry, no right turn and one-way street signs which are there and she has also seen vehicles parking and reversing the wrong way down the road.
She says drivers turn off Queenborough Road, into Belmont Road and down Lynsted Road to use it as a shortcut and avoid the traffic lights.
She estimates at least 30 cars turn right into Lynsted Road and around 10 vehicles ignore the one-way sign every day.
When Times Guardian photographer Andy Payton was there for just 20 minutes he saw two vehicles flout the rules.
As well as a worry about cars colliding with other vehicles or bikes, Diane is also concerned for mums with prams and small children who may not look both ways because cars shouldn’t be coming from one direction.
The 45-year-old said: “It’s so dangerous and I don’t want to see anybody killed or injured.
“If there’s an accident, I’m the one that’s going to have to go out and pick up the pieces because I live on the corner. I will have to deal with the after effects.
“It’s clearly marked but it needs to be bought to drivers’ attention.
Diane says in the past she has confronted motorists about it and she’s been abused or people say they know the signs are there but they don’t care.
In August last year, police took action in the area and fined 11 people who were caught ignoring the signs, but residents are now calling for a more permanent solution.
Her suggestion is for Lynsted Road to be turned into a dead-end or barriers to be installed on the ground so drivers can only turn into the road and not drive out.
She has also asked for a camera but was told there is no funding.
She added: “Are they waiting for somebody to be killed?
“How many times have I got to keep saying it to people?
“It’s not my job but if I can save one life or one accident from happening – I will have done my duty.”
“If residents are concerned about faulty street signs they should contact Kent Highways by calling our Contact Centre on 08458 247 800.
“They should contact Kent Police if they are concerned about enforcement of the one-way system.”
Sgt Stefan Martin, of the Island Neighbourhood Team, said: “The road signs and direction of traffic are there to protect motorists and pedestrians.
“When we see motorists who are not following the road signs we will stop them and speak with the driver.
“People who contravene the road signs can receive anything from a £30 fine to a £60 fine and three points on their driving licence, so my advice would be that it is really not worth taking the risk.”
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