“I was almost at the median strip when out of the corner of my eye a car came out of Centennial Drive,’’ says Judy Mercer.
“I took a couple of steps forward and my feeling was the driver spotted me and swerved.
“But I could have reached out behind me and touched the car it was that close.
“It scared the expletives out of me.
“I got to the footpath and the pedestrian light was still flashing red so I had plenty of time to get across road.
“I’m a lot more mobile than other people who use the crossing.
“With the retirement village so close, there are people with walkers and walking sticks who have to use the crossing so it is very dangerous,’’ Ms Mercer said.
Campbelltown MP Greg Warren worries that unless a right hand turn signal is introduced for vehicles travelling west along Centennial Drive and intending to turn right a Kellicar Road it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed or gravely injured.
Data obtained from the Centre for Road Safety showed there had been 19 crashes from 2013- 2017 at the intersection near Park Central and Marketfair Shopping Centre.
The data showed 14 injuries from those crashes, but the number of close calls or unreported accidents is unknown, and likely much higher.
Many residents – including those who lived in the nearby aged care facility – said it was particularly dangerous for pedestrians crossing the road.
One of those residents was Judy Mercer.
Mr Warren responded by starting a petition calling on the state government to install a right-hand turning arrow for motorists turning right off Centennial Drive, onto Kellicar Road.
Hundreds of responses were received in a matter of weeks, and Mr Warren subsequently wrote to Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey in August this year.
However, no reply has been received yet.
Mr Warren implored Minister Pavey to urgently upgrade the intersection.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The statistics are terribly frightening and clearly show that this is one of the most notorious intersections in Campbelltown,’’ says the local MP.[/social_quote]
“Given the number of injuries at the intersection in the past five years, I fear it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.
“Pedestrians in particular have expressed concerns for their safety.
“I met local resident Judy Mercer at the intersection and saw a number of cars turn right while the pedestrian light was still green or flashing red.
“The installation of a right-turn arrow would provide a much-needed protection for those crossing the road on foot.
“Judy Mercer’s close call should serve as stark a warning about the inherent dangers faced by pedestrians.’’
