Princes Highway has the most dangerous intersections in the Sutherland Shire and St George area, according to statistics gathered over the past five years.
Four of the five most dangerous intersections in the region are located on the main highway.
Transport for NSW provide a full rundown of crash statistics on its website, including the location of crashes over the past five years.
From 2011 to 2015, five intersections stood out as the worst in the region, for having the highest number of crashes which resulted in a serious injury or death.
The five intersections – three of which are located in the Sutherland Shire and two in the wider Rockdale area – all averaged one serious crash per year for the past five years ending in 2015. Detailed statistics for 2016 are yet to be released.
The five intersections include the corner of Princes Highway and Rockdale Plaza Dr (Rockdale), corner of Grand Parade and Bay St (Brighton-Le-Sands), corner of Princes Highway and Oak Rd (Kirrawee), corner of Princes Highway, Garnet Rd and Bates Dr (Kareela), and corner of Engadine Ave and Princes Highway (Engadine).
Three of the intersections have received work during recent years, to make them safer, or have developments planned. Two of the intersections have no improvements planned.
NSW Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said they monitored all intersections in the area for safety improvements.
“We closely monitor all NSW roadways and intersections to identify where we can improve safety.
“Improvements are delivered when and where they’re needed most.
“It’s an evidence-based approach and includes regular road safety expert assessments, crash data analysis and continued work with key stakeholders like council, Roads and Maritime Services and NSW Police.”
Mr Carlon said road users needed to take responsibility in keeping roads safe.
“Our message to everyone is to have your head in the moment, be vigilant and patient, and make responsible decisions on the road, because even the slightest slip in concentration can have tragic consequences.”
About half of all road crashes in NSW happen at intersections, according to the NSW Roads and Maritime Services website.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services manage highways and main roads, including Princes Highway, while councils manage local roads.
Statistics gathered for the St George region were based on the Hurstville, Kogarah and Rockdale local government areas.
Work done or planned for dangerous intersections:
- Corner of Princes Highway and Rockdale Plaza Dr (Rockdale): This intersection has been earmarked for investigation as part of the $300M Gateway to the South Pinch Point Program. In the past five years, work was carried out on the western leg of the intersection to change a through-and-left-turn lane to a left-turn-only lane to improve safety.
- Corner of Grand Parade and Bay St (Brighton-Le-Sands): No work planned at present.
- Corner of Princes Highway and Oak Rd (Kirrawee): Approval has been given to a private developer to reconstruct the traffic lights to support a development at the south-east corner of the intersection.
- Corner of Princes Highway, Garnet Rd and Bates Dr (Kareela): Work was carried out this year at Bates Dr to resurface the left turn into Princes Highway to improve safety.
- Corner of Engadine Ave and Princes Highway (Engadine): No work planned at present.
