Measures which have ‘improved road safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists’ at a junction in Ealing Broadway have been made permanent by Ealing Council.
Trialed over the past year, the measures prohibit turning left out of, or right into, Longfield Avenue at the junction with New Broadway.
The council’s decision followed the recommendations of an independent review which concluded road safety and traffic flow in the area had both been improved.
According to Ealing Council, the trial saw a marked improvement in road safety, with no collisions occurring over the trial period. The ban on turning has also helped introduce a better balance between drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, with an 8% increase in the number of pedestrians using the junction.
Congestion in Longfield Avenue has been significantly cut, with a 64% reduction of traffic to steady levels throughout the day. The balance of traffic in the local area has also ‘improved’, with the measures discouraging rat-running through local residential streets and traffic flow now directed to more suitable roads nearby.
Throughout the trial, Ealing Council worked to help drivers avoid getting tickets wherever possible – and the number of fines issued in September was down 46% compared to the monthly average from last winter.
There are currently 21 road signs in place to make road users aware of the traffic measures and the council is looking to additional signage to further alert drivers of the turning bans.
Cllr Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport leisure and environment said:
“We began this trial as part of our ongoing commitment to improve road safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in the area.
“We’ve acted on recommendations from the independent review to make this decision and the facts clearly show that the banned turns on Longfield Road have improved road safety and eased congestion on the junction. Congestion around Longfield Avenue has been eliminated and the junction is now safer and used by pedestrians more frequently.
“We have worked to educate drivers about the trial and ensured that extensive signage has been displayed around the junction. As a result we have seen a reduction in the average number of fines being issued.”
10 October 2017