Intersections are always an interesting concept to follow. It’s an area where four directions of traffic meet. Three scenarios can happen in the matter of seconds at an intersection. You can turn left, right or go straight. Don’t forget, at most intersections, pedestrians and cyclists are also crossing the streets too.
Recently, London Police released the intersections that saw the most collisions in 2014:
- Wellington Road & Commissioners Road – 78
- Highbury Avenue & Oxford Street-77
- Highbury Avenue & Hamilton Road- 76
- Wonderland Road & Oxford Street- 73
- Fanshawe Park Road & Adelaide Street- 71
- Wharncliffe Road & Oxford Street- 68
- Sarnia Road & Wonderland Road- 63
- Southdale Road & Wonderland Road – 58
- Oxford Street & Adelaide Street – 56
- Oxford Street & Richmond Street- 56
This brings up the question of what is the city doing improve the safety at intersections?
The intersection of Wellington and Commissioners is deemed the most dangerous intersection in London.
Councillor Josh Morgan says the city recently adopted a strategy to help improve the roads around London.
“The London Road Strategy. This a strategy that brings together a number of partners to together to improve the roadways for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. It’s about safe methods of travel around the city. It’s a comprehensive partnership that has a number of goals to improve public safety.
Councillor Morgan says intersections are a priority in this plan.
“Improving intersection design is certainly a component in this strategy. There’s a couple of pilots associated with it too. The intersection of Fanshawe Park Road and Wonderland Road now of advanced street signs. This means you can know what streets you are approaching well before you get there. That way you can make better decisions of where you need to be without doing so at the last second.”
Roundabouts are becoming more popular on a National, provincial scale and local scale. Division Manager of Roadway Lighting and Traffic Control, Shane Maguire, says roundabouts are great option.
“The flow of traffic is always moving. Now, sometimes the congestion of traffic could slow it down. There great in off peak hours because you never have to stop at a red light. You can just keep going.”
Maguire says it also knocks down the amount of collisions along with the severity of them. The flow of traffic is moving at a calm space. The angle of how the cars are moving also decreases the impact of a collision.
The Charley Fox Memorial Overpass at Trafalgar and Hale Street is the first roundabout on one of London’s arterial roads. Not only does it keep the flow of the traffic moving, it also serves as an overpass for the two roads as rail line runs right underneath it. The city has recently completed its first multilane roundabout at Wonderland and Sunningdale Road.
Here is a video from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) showing the rules when it comes to roundabouts:
Looking at the road ahead:
When it comes the future, Councillor Morgan says educating and looking at all options will be important to make the roads around London safe. Now it’s up to time to see the improvements pave their way across the City.
