Drivers’ fury at being caught in bus lane ‘car trap’ that has damaged and written off ‘dozens’ of vehicles… but councillor suggests if you can’t see the ‘big hole’ you shouldn’t be behind the wheel at all
- The bus lane is guarded by a 30cm deep diagonal slit trench throughout the highway
- There is a small space of concrete all sides of the trench permitting buses to move
Outraged motorists are blaming an area council after driving their automobiles right into a entice guarding a bus lane which is writing off their automobiles.
Locals say 5 motorists per week are caught out by the pit in the carriageway, which they declare has been stuffed with weeds.
The entice is positioned at the junction of Station Road and Harrison Way and is designed to stop non-public automobiles from scooting by the bus lane.
It consists of a diagonal 30cm-deep slit trench crossing the majority of the carriageway. The width of the trench is simply too small for a automobile smaller than a bus to cross with out falling in. Buses and massive autos have a large sufficient observe between their wheels to stay both aspect of the massive pit in the center.
Unfortunately for motorists who ignore the indicators, their automobiles will tumble into the pit, inflicting substantial harm.
The daughter of a motorist lately caught in the entice, who needs to stay nameless, says the incident has left each her dad and mom ‘shaken and traumatised’.
Their automobile was severely damaged in the drop, and they’re discovering out if it’s repairable or a write off.
She claims her father was one of 5 drivers who ended up in the entice final week.
He is in his 80s, but she insists he’s a reliable driver who misunderstood the exit indicators main out of a parking lot
She stated: ‘He in some way ended up again in the identical automobile park once more.
‘He stated the signage was poor and if he exited the identical method, he’d find yourself doing the identical factor.
‘So he went a distinct method and ended up in the automobile entice.
‘We know of somebody in their 20s who has additionally gone into the entice – you can’t argue it’s because of my father’s age.
‘Considering the quantity of incidents, there should be one other approach to handle the junction that would not trigger this a lot harm to autos.’
Philippa Parker drove into the entice which, she claims, was full of weeds final summer season and complained to the council.
She additionally argues poor signposting main as much as the entice is what led to the incident.
Ms Parker, from Wiltshire, stated: ‘The indicators have been completely insufficient.
‘Motorists have been driving as much as the junction whereas we have been ready for the restoration.
‘If we weren’t there, they might’ve made the identical mistake.
‘The abuse and terrible language individuals have been shouting as they handed us was additionally surprising.
‘It left us with a really dangerous impression of St Ives afterwards.’
However, Cambridgeshire County Council stated final month it’s only conscious of 60 incidents of autos caught in the entice because it opened 12 years in the past.
It additionally says the warnings, corresponding to signage, at the moment in place are ample.
Cllr Kevin Reynolds from Cambridgeshire County Council has admitted he has little sympathy for the drivers who get caught.
He stated: ‘If individuals driving alongside that highway can not see a giant gap in the floor in entrance of them then I’d argue they would not be in a position to see a small baby.
‘I’d query whether or not they need to be behind the wheel at all.’
