Stop Turning Left!
Motorists on Tyneside are being urged not to make an illegal left turn at one of the regions busiest junctions following a number of near misses with pedestrians.
Drivers at the recently re-modelled Oakwellgate Junction are being asked by Northumbria Police and Gateshead Council not to make an illegal left turn from Gateshead Highway onto Askew Road.
The left turn was removed during recent remodelling to improve the crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. A new, clearly signposted, route taking motorists up to Prince Consort Road before re-joining Askew Road has been introduced in its place.
Northumbria Police have been monitoring the junction and have warned a number of motorists. They are now considering issuing penalty notices to motorists making the illegal turn as a result of a number of near misses.
Vehicles turning left illegally pass through the pedestrian crossing ‘green man’ and risk hitting anyone crossing. Both the Council and the Police have received a number of complaints from the public about drivers making illegal left turns. Police officers monitoring the situation have seen more than a dozen illegal manoeuvres in an average hour.
Gateshead Council director of transport strategy, Nick Clennett, said:
“The works carried out at Oakwellgate have simplified the junction and made it safer, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. The layout has been altered and traffic signals changed. That means anyone ignoring the signage and turning left from Gateshead Highway onto Askew Road is potentially coming onto a section of road where pedestrians are seeing a ‘green man’ to cross. I’d urge motorists to follow the signed route to avoid accident.”
Chief Inspector John Heckels, Northumbria Police Motor Patrols and Dogs Department Head, said:
“We have worked with Gateshead Council to ensure signage is sufficient for motorists to be aware that this manoeuvre is prohibited. We are satisfied that any motorist making this turn is doing so in full knowledge that they are doing so illegally.
Our main concern is the safety of people using the crossing on Askew Road. As such we have been utilising Police cameras to identify offending vehicles. Whilst we will always attempt to educate motorists in the first instance, prosecutions will be made against those who risk the safety of other road users.”
Recent data shows that Gateshead has seen one of the highest increases in cycle traffic in the country during the last decade. New developments in central Gateshead, such as Trinity Square, have also led to increased numbers of pedestrians.