Road users ‘at risk’ over missing bollards
CAMPAIGN GROUP LOGS NUMBER OF UNLIT TRAFFIC ISLANDS IN FEAR OF A FATAL ACCIDENT
MISSING safety bollards and unlit traffic islands are putting the lives of drivers and motorcyclists in serious danger, according to a former traffic policeman.
Ex-policeman Steve Bolton and colleagues with the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) have logged around 100 unlit or missing bollards in a safety survey which began last month.
He says the unlit islands and missing bollards are potentially fatal “accidents waiting to happen” – with motorcyclists and cyclists most at risk of serious injury.
Mr Bolton has spoken out about his safety concerns after a mum and her two children suffered cuts and bruises after their car hit an unlit traffic island with a missing bollard in Marsden last month.
The MAG survey has identified around 100 locations across Huddersfield with missing lights or bollards, including on major roads including the A629 Wakefield Road.
In some cases, vandals could be to blame while in others the bollards have been struck by a vehicle and destroyed, he says. “Huddersfield MAG members have worked in the past with the Kirklees Council Lighting Team reporting unlit and unmarked ‘keep left bollards’ and pedestrian refuges as we feel the islands installed on Kirklees roads have long become a menace owing to the frequent failure of lighting on them which makes them difficult to see, especially at night and, even worse, in rain at night.”
Mr Bolton’s main concern is for those on two wheels. “Motorcyclists frequently ride along the centre of the road, filter- ing around slower moving and queuing traffic, in accord with Rule 211 of the Highway Code.
“These islands and refuges are directly in our path. Motorcyclists riding in poor visibility, perhaps looking through a wet or misty visor or commuting in the winter months, with low levels of daylight, are at serious risk of collision from these hazards.”
Mr Bolton says the islands were introduced as road safety features but, due to poor maintenance, have become serious hazards. He and MAG colleagues have identified what he calls “horror stories” during their travels including:
Somerset Road from Aspley to Almondbury had islands with beacon posts and bollards which were introduced in the 1990s to reduce its high accident rate. There are 32 bollards on its length but 16 were faulty when checked by MAG. Six of the islands had beacon posts but only one was lit.
On Wakefield Road at Lepton two faulty bollards were spotted by MAG on a traffic island for a speed camera.
Mr Bolton has praised Kirklees Council’s response to the MAG safety survey. “I have to say the council are as eager as we are to eliminate these faults and their engineers have already embarked on a programme of repair, acting on our reports and are keeping us in the loop as they go.”
He is now urging other road users to report faults via the council website.
Kirklees Council has been asked to comment.