Community
14 February, 2025
Accident renews calls for safety improvements
RENEWED calls to address a horror intersection have been made after three people were hospitalised in a crash over the weekend.
The calls for action were prompted after a crash on Saturday, February 8 at the intersection of Darlington-Camperdown Road and Castle Carey Road saw three people hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.
Western District Newspapers has previously published multiple stories highlighting the stories of residents living at the intersections known locally as ‘Gnotuk Corner’.
Within 100 metres there is an intersection between Castle Carey Road and Old Geelong Road with Darlington-Camperdown Road, which crosses the train line to meet with the Princes Highway on a crest.
Peter Welding, a resident living on the corner, struck a chord with the community following the most recent traffic accident, taking to social media to raise his concerns for “the worst designed intersections in Victoria”.
“You’ve got five roads, four of which are major roads, and one rail crossing on a single corner – It’s a planning nightmare,” he said.
“Over the past six years I know four people who have been in an accident, all locals who are not at fault but from tourists confused by the roads.
“Every time we leave our driveways, we’re taking a risk – especially on foggy morning’s when the visibility is even worse.”
Mr Welding said he feared action would only be taken if something catastrophic happened.
“Everyone says the government will not act until lots of people are killed – but one death is too many,” he said.
“Every day there are horns tooting and screeching tires – you just wait for the big bang.
“It’s so sad to think nothing will be done until there are deaths – a truck rollover, or a school bus.
“Is that what we’re waiting for?”
Among the nearby residents concerned for the state of the intersection is Ian Thornton, who said appealing for action was like “hitting your head against the wall”.
“I’m honestly surprised there aren’t more crashes,” he said.
“It’s a horrible set up, horrible design, and you’ve consistently got tourists who aren’t familiar with the road.
“When you have something big on like the Port Fairy Folk Festival, it’s bedlam.”
Mr Thornton said nearby residents had long campaigned for action, and that minor works such as introducing a turning lane was akin to “wallpaper over cracks”.
Another resident of the corner, Chris Bateman, echoed the calls for action.
“Particularly over long weekends – you’ve got horns sounding and cars pulling out in front of trucks,” he said.
“It’s easy for people to have their attention divided with so much happening at high speed.
“It’s a recipe for disaster.”
Various ideas have been floated for how to make the dangerous intersection safer, including the introduction of side-road-activated variable speed signs which have been installed at multiple locations through to Geelong, including the notorious ‘Blue Church intersection’ where Timboon-Colac Road and Nalangil Road intersect with the highway.
Mr Thornton said he believed slowing traffic down was the only solution.
“It’s 100 kilometres an hour with limited visibility,” he said.
“If a truck comes around and someone pulls out, it’s going to be mass carnage.
“We’ve campaigned for side-road-activated lights and all we’ve got is a silly little turn in lane.”
Mr Bateman said he agreed with side-road-activated speed reductions being a good solution.
“We approached VicRoads when there was not many of those signs but there’s a lot more now – it just makes sense,” he said.
Mr Welding said he supported the side-road-activated lights in addition to the use of ripple strips leading in to the intersections and a permanent speed reduction.
“If it’s slowed down, at least people have an opportunity to brake,” he said.
“I know people hate going slow, but it’s only adding a second to your travel time over such a short distance.
“It could save lives – are we all too impatient these days?”
Read More: Camperdown