Disaster lights under review

By EMMA SUN
YET another crash at the York Road and Wray Crescent lights has prompted calls by police for a change in the traffic light cycle.
The Mail reported on 21 August about a string of accidents in Mount Evelyn, one of them being at the same intersection where two people, including a small child, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The latest incident happened last Friday about 4pm, where a small sedan turning right from York Road into Wray Crescent was hit by a four-wheel drive heading up the hill towards the roundabout.
Both drivers were from Mount Evelyn. The 24-year-old man in the sedan walked away with minor injuries and the 19-year-old man was uninjured.
Leading Senior Constable Mark Lancaster from the Mount Evelyn police station said he had heard of about nine accidents at the lights since they were turned on in March, prompting police to alert the Yarra Ranges Council about the issue.
“We’re looking to change the cycle slightly so that there are continuous green arrows working in both directions along York Road,” he said.
“At the moment, it starts up as a green arrow and then turns itself off while there is a green light each way, so people turning right only have to give way.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s director of environment and engineering Mark Varmalis said the council had been told of the recent accident.
“We are currently working with VicRoads and Victoria Police in their investigation into it and are in discussions about potential enhancement of the intersection,” he said.
The Mount Evelyn CFA recently issued a warning for motorists to be vigilant at the intersection.
“The brigade…urges motorists to be careful on all of our roads, and in particular not to take controlled intersections for granted as serious collisions can and do occur at intersections with lights as well as intersections without lights,” fire-fighter Steve Deakins said.
Leading Sen Const Lancaster echoed the Mr Deakins’ comments.
“It’s a dangerous intersection where there have been numerous collisions, so we urge drivers to be careful.”