New markings were installed this morning on King's Drive, Wembley, at the junction with Forty Lane and the ASDA slip road.
Campaigners including Wembley Matters and local resident Ann Fitzgerald have drawn attention to the dangers at the crossing. LINK Often people drive straight across six lanes of traffic (there are no traffic lights on King's Drive) and do a u-turn on the Asda slip road to drive north to Bridge Road/Forty Avenue. The large 'Turn Left' sign and cross hatching make it clearer that cars should not drive across Forty Lane. In addition there are now no parking zig zags outside the French School entrance in King's Drive which used to be the Town Hall car park entrance, very close to the junction.
Ann Fitzgerald who has witnessed numerous infringements at the junction said the news was 'Brilliant!':
I’m so fearful of one of the children getting knocked down. A BMW on Monday did that Kings Drive cut through at speed. I just don’t know if I could live with myself – thus I feel I have become a nag. But as you know yourself, it’s right by the entry gates to the Lycee and I do think drivers get a tunnel vision with gaining time and just don’t think pedestrian.Ironically cars were seen using the manoeuvre even while the workmen were painting the signs.
The installation of a yellow junction box LINK at the junction is the next stage in making the junction safe. This will address the problem in the morning school-run rush hour of slow moving traffic blocking the pedestrian crossing even when the lights are on green.
It is hoped that the box junction will be installed before December 7th. It will have to be done overnight due to the volume of day time traffic and timing will be dependent on the weather.
There are also plans for a new signal crossing at the junction of The Paddocks and Forty Lane, the other side of the French School. It is hoped that this might deter people crossing Forty Lane from the bus stop outside the old Town Hall entrance to the Chalkhill Estate.