Flashing warning signs on the way
LOCAL residents are pleased flashing ‘‘advanced warning signs’’ are going to be installed at the intersection of Ballantyne and Riverbank Rds, and hope it will reduce the number of incidents there.
The signs use LED lights and movement detection sensors to alert drivers to upcoming stop signs.
They were trialled at intersections in Canterbury where several fatal crashes had occurred.
Mount Barker Residents Association chairman Jerry Rowley said he and others had noticed drivers who were unaware of the stop sign at the Wanaka intersection.
‘‘A lot of our locals here are observing tourists following their GPS on their phones and just heading straight through the intersection without any note of the stop sign that is there. For some reason they’re just not seeing it.’’
In March, a motorist failed to give way at the intersection and caused a threecar pile up.
‘‘There’s been lots of accidents . . . it was only a matter of time until someone got cleaned up there,’’ Mr Rowley said.
Having seen the success the signs had in Canterbury, he proposed the idea to council, who he said responded with ‘‘let’s do it’’.
‘‘They [the signs] do have a very positive effect so it seemed like a logical idea to put one here at probably Wanaka’s worst intersection.’’
Wanaka Community Board member Ed Taylor confirmed last week the signs would be installed within the next two months.