Auckland traffic is forming a dangerous wall around one of our most-loved parks. A One Tree Hill mother tells Sean Gillespie of her frustration trying to cross the road.
Wendy Marshall won't use the pedestrian crossing on her daily walks to Cornwall Park. It's simply not safe enough for the One Tree Hill resident and her 6-month-old boy, Nathan.
Instead, they walk an extra 100m from the Campbell Rd and Rawhiti Rd intersection to cross without the help of zebra stripes.
She has avoided the designated crossing since seeing a waiting car rear-ended right in front of her a month ago.
"One rainy day last month I was out walking with my baby and I was patiently waiting at the crossing when, finally, a car stopped," she says.
"However, the next car travelling some distance behind wasn't aware of this and drove straight into the rear of the car, shunting it over the crossing about 20m down the road.
"Thankfully, I hadn't stepped out - or I wouldn't be here today."
Returning home from the park, Mrs Marshall again tried to use the crossing.
"I waited for all cars to stop and the cars behind to stop also. Halfway across the crossing I noticed a utility truck driving down the middle of the road towards us and stopping just short of where I was walking.
"The driver had obviously not noticed the queue of cars in front of him, had stopped at the crossing, and was unable to brake in time.
"Since this day I have changed my walking route and cross Campbell Rd without using the crossing as I believe this is a much safer option for me and my baby."
For months, Mrs Marshall has watched a succession of near-crashes while waiting nervously at the kerb. They've frightened her and she's finally had enough. "You're just more aware when you've got a baby," she says.
In testament to her concerns, broken glass from car crashes litters the gutters beside the pedestrian crossing and two cars lose traction and screech to a halt during our 15-minute onsite interview.
The intersection serves a steady stream of through traffic and vehicles entering and leaving Cornwall Park and Rawhiti Rd. Mrs Marshall says it's a confusing set of tightly packed roads.
"As result of this, and the excess speed travelled on this stretch of road, drivers are often distracted and pedestrians go unnoticed," she says.
"As a lot of young families use this crossing to gain access to Cornwall Park, I believe it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs."
She contacted Maungakiekie Community Board, where transport spokesman Simon Randall is dealing with the matter and working with the Auckland City Council to sort out the intersection.
"It certainly is a serious safety concern," he says. "I'm keen to see a change to it."
Mr Randall consulted council engineers, who plan to slow traffic by installing roundabouts on Campbell Rd at the Rawhiti Rd and Onehunga Mall intersections. The roundabouts would be raised to stop cars maintaining speed by driving over them, he says.
The council also plans a refuge for pedestrians on the zebra crossing to let people wait in the middle.
The council is expected to approve the project later this year and complete it by halfway through next year or a little later.
Meanwhile, Mr Randall is looking for a temporary solution to improve safety.
Accidents in the Auckland region
- Between 2005 and mid-2010 there were 17,512 injury accidents involving vehicles
- 126 were at pedestrian crossings
- 30 were serious
- Four were fatal - one in Auckland City and three in Manukau
- No pedestrians were injured at the Campbell and Rawhiti roads intersection. But at least five cars stopped for pedestrians were rear-ended. All were travelling southwest.
Source: NZTA