Roadworks are confusing motorists trying to enter Sladen Street in Cranbourne.
By Melissa Grant
A CRANBOURNE resident says poor road signage near Sladen Street was largely to blame for a car crash in which he was recently involved.
Darren Findlay says an obscured give way sign was the main reason for the smash, which occurred when he pulled out of Sladen Street on to Scarborough Avenue on Sunday, August 12.
“I basically came out of Sladen Street thinking it was the old set up,” he said.
Works have been taking place along Sladen Street for the past six months.
The busy street will have two lanes in each direction all the way through to Brooklyn Green Estate when the works are completed. Mr Findlay said it wasn’t clear enough that the traffic flow had changed along the street.
“The lanes had changed from what they were,” he said.
“It was such a drastic change and you couldn’t see the sign.”
Mr Findlay will be forced to pay for the damage to his 1997 Landrover after changing his insurance recently.
“I was full comprehensive, but I went back to third party because of financial reasons,” the 44-year-old said.
Mr Findlay estimates the repair bill to be upwards of $1000 even with second-hand parts.
Senior Constable Allan Inderwisch from Cranbourne Police said there was no problem with the signage at the time of Mr Findlay’s crash, which was one of two prangs to take place near Sladen Street that day.
“The sign was certainly visible,” Sen Const Inderwisch said.
“Even if it wasn’t there were lines clearly painted on the road.
“Under the Victorian road rules you don’t even need both signs and a line.”
Sen Const Inderwisch urged motorists to take care when driving around the Sladen Street area.
“Some people have been driving along the same route for years,” he said.
“We just ask motorists to slow down and observe the conditions.”
