Just about everyone in Campbelltown is familiar with the intersection of Moore-Oxley Street and Broughton Street.
And plenty of them would also know that if you are travelling east along Broughton Street and wish to turn right at Moore-Oxley Street you must be very, very careful.
The lack of a green right-hand turn arrow and poor visibility of cars coming from the opposite direction make turning right there a high risk proposition.
The most recent statistics from the Centre for Road Safety show that there were 11 crashes at the intersection from 2013 to 2017. The statistics do not include minor incidents that were not reported.
In that period covered by the statistics, four incidents resulted in serious injuries and there were a total of 14 injuries, while nine of the 11 incidents occurred during the daytime.
Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has now joined forces with Campbelltown Councillor Karen Hunt, who also chairs the local traffic committee, to call for urgent safety measures to avoid more serious accidents at this intersection.
“Any east-bound motorist who has tried to turn right off Broughton Street onto Moore-Oxley Street knows how heart-in-mouth the manoeuvre is,’’ says the local MP.
“It can be extremely difficult to see oncoming traffic.
“Whether or a not a green right-hand turning arrow would make a difference is a matter that should be determined by experts.
“However, at the very least, those experts should conduct a detailed traffic study.
“It is only a matter of time before another serious accident, or a fatality, occurs, if the situation remains as is.
“The sight of tow trucks at the intersection is far too common and it’s time the Minister did his job and insisted the RMS conduct the detailed traffic study as a matter of urgency.”
Mr Warren raised the issue prior to the state election with the former roads minister and was told the safety concerns needed to be dealt with by Campbelltown Council as Broughton Street was a council-owned road.
But according to Campbelltown Council general manager Lindy Deitz because the traffic lights were part of the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) which was under the control of Roads and Maritime Services (a state government department), it was a matter that must be dealt with by the RMS and the state government, not council.
Mr Warren said the RMS must undertake a detailed traffic study on how to improve safety at the troublesome intersection.
The state government has so far dismissed the possibility of installing a green right-hand turning arrow, claiming it would require Broughton Street to be widened.
“It’s not good enough for the Minister and RMS to fob off serious concerns raised by the local state member and the council,’’ says Cr Karen Hunt.
“I agree with Mr Warren that the very least that should occur is a detailed traffic study.”
