The section of road where a woman was hit by a car in Manly yesterday and thrown under a stationary vehicle has been earmarked for a pedestrian refuge, it has been revealed.
While we are yet to hear from the state body responsible for Pittwater Road, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) [this is due to our technical error and a response is now forthcoming] the information was confirmed by Northern Beaches Council earlier today. Following a similar but even more serious pedestrian collision at the section of road near Little Lane daycare and Harris Farm last year involving a critically injured teenager, TfNSW developed a concept proposal for a pedestrian refuge, nominating it for blackspot funding in the 2022/23 financial year.
The TfNSW proposal is for a pedestrian refuge as the location did not meet their requirements for a marked pedestrian crossing.
An audit noted an issue with vehicle approach speed from the north as cars the roundabout at Balgowlah Road and Pittwater Road, a briefing from Northern Beaches Council reveals.
The woman involved in yesterday’s accident was last known to be in a stable condition but with injuries to her face and pelvis. She was in Royal North Shore Hospital.
The 32-year-old, an employee at Little Lane daycare where she was heading for work at 7.30am yesterday morning, 26 April, was struck by a Land Rover SUV while crossing the road. While the woman doesn’t have family here, her closest friends were notified.
The woman became trapped under a nearby parked VW Golf after she was struck.
Officers established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The driver of the Land Rover, a 49-year-old man, was uninjured and returned a negative result in a roadside breath test.
Another motor vehicle accident occurred earlier today, 27 April 2022, according to an email sent to parents from the daycare, but fortunately no one was injured.
The state-managed road has long been criticised by local residents as a dangerous traffic area which puts pedestrians at risk. A petition was launched last April; a request for reduced speed in that area was denied.
But a pedestrian refuge is, at least, on its way.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael said he was saddened to hear of the terrible accident.
“My thoughts go out to the victim and her family. We should all feel safe on our local roads and we all have a part to play to keep pedestrians safe,” he said.
“Council invests a significant amount of funding to make our local roads safer. We also listen to residents’ concerns and work with state agencies to bring about safety improvements.
“Unfortunately, Council is excluded from decision making on major state roads such as Pittwater Road. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is the responsible agency.
“When a terrible accident occurred in this same location last year I called on state authorities to conduct a safety audit. We along with the community are urging TfNSW who have proposed a pedestrian refuge at this location to get on with [it].”
