Traffic light call after deaths

TWO pedestrian deaths at busy Burnie intersections in less than two years has prompted the council to call for a change in traffic light timings to save lives.

Burnie City Council is set to talk to the Department of State Growth about the issue which it says is particularly dangerous for older pedestrians.

The council on Tuesday night supported Mayor Steven Kons’ motion to engage with the department about lengthening the time intervals at four major intersections to lengthen the time it takes to go through the sequence of green to amber to red.

Mayor Kons’ motion also asked the department to consider the installation of time mechanisms which would indicate how long remains before the pedestrian lights turn to red.

He said if that failed, the council should apply to the Road Safety Levy Fund to obtain a grant to install the timing measures itself.

A local woman died after being hit by a garbage truck as she crossed Cattley St in August. A visiting cruise ship passenger was struck and killed at a nearby intersection 18 months earlier.