Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is undertaking a review of the speed limit along The Lakes Way at the Black Head Road intersection following an accident involving former Greater Taree City Council deputy mayor Alan Tickle in February.
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Mr Tickle has called for the speed limit at the Black Head Road intersection on the Lakes Way to be lowered after he escaped more serious injury in an accident at this intersection
He asked MidCoast Council’s Local Traffic Committee (LTC) to review the speed limit.
Council's senior transport engineer, Richard Wheatley has requested the police provide details on these recent crashes to determine what may have been the contributing factors.
Mr Wheatley will also organise an onsite meeting with the police and RMS to investigate the intersection. A report will be provided to council’s next LTC meeting in June.
About 10 years ago, the “S” bends at the northern approach of the Lakes Way at the Black Head intersection were straightened in response to a number of accidents including a fatality.
Mr Tickle said he expressed concern to the then Greater Taree City Council that while work on the S bends was needed, straightening completely may result in a disaster due to increased speed of vehicles travelling through the intersection to Black Head Road.
The most publicised accident at the intersection after the upgrade involved current Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead who was at that time campaigning for election for the first time.
Major redesign of the intersection was implemented by RMS soon after.
Mr Tickle then called on council’s traffic committee to argue the case for speed reduction to the approaches but was asked instead to take it up with RMS which he did but to no avail.
“Research shows that reduced speed lowers the consequences of driver error and a sign depicting lower speed warns drivers of a change in conditions and heightens concentration.”
