More than 50 vehicles a day making illegal turn on Edinburgh street
Council monitoring has revealed more than 50 drivers a day have been breaking the law by making a left hand turn from Leith Walk onto London Road
Council monitoring of a notorious Edinburgh city centre road has revealed more than 50 drivers a day are breaking the law by making a illegal left hand turn.
After recent tram works on Leith Walk a ban on left hand turns from the street onto London Road was put in place.
But multiple drivers continue to flaunt the rules, turning anyway, meanwhile pedestrians are shown a green man.
Campaigners have been calling for over a month for preventative measures to be put in place to protect those crossing the road.
At the moment CCTV has been set up to watch the route, with Transport Convener Scott Arthur telling Forth News that images of offenders are being sent to the Police.
Local Councillor Susan Rae wants to see something more substantial.
Councillor Rae was hit by a car on the road last month, when she and others formed a human shield to block law breakers making the turn.
She said: "I continue to be extremely concerned and very, very worried about the safety of anyone using the pedestrian crossing at the junction on London Road.
"We have continually raised this issue, we have had motions put to council on this issue
"People have spoken to Scott Arthur, the Convener, and he has promised action and no action has been forthcoming."
Explaining the incident where she was hit by a car, Cllr Rae said:
"When we engaged in human bollarding to try and prevent drivers coming round that corner, sometimes at speed, it very obvious that a lot of this problem emanates from the problem that drivers are incredibly entitled.
"At one point when we had stopped a car, and explained to them why they couldn't go through, the chap involved became so irate that instead of reversing the leaving he in fact slammed his foot on the pedal and drove right into me, striking me.
"He was undeterred by this and not at all ashamed by his behaviour, in fact he was more angry that there was a woman falling over his front bonnet that he was that he'd injured a pedestrian."
Councillor Arthur has suggested any local Councillors who have any ideas can come to him, insisting his door is always open.
He told Forth News: "I'm completely open to working with all local ward councillors to try and find a solution to this problem.
"Obviously we can maximise the enforcement by the police but ultimately we need to get this junction in a state where we don't need police officers and cameras there 24 hours a day in order to keep pedestrians safe.
"In the coming days and weeks my doors open to anybody that has a constructive solution to this, and all options remain on the table."