Not everyone happy with speed devices

Road modifications designed to slow traffic in Mira Mar have been completed but not everybody is happy about their impact.

Six chicanes were installed last month on a 500m stretch of Bathurst and Nelson streets, a $25,000 project approved by the City of Albany council in November because of concerns about speeding in the area.

Speed cushions had been installed in 2010 but were removed in 2015 because of noise complaints, with the City identifying the permanent chicanes as a better solution.

However, not everybody is happy with the move, and Seymour Street resident Stanley Date said the additions had had a serious effect on traffic flow.

“I’ll not be able to bring my trailer up there any more,” he said.

“One of the road workers said I didn’t need to go that slow — but you literally do.

“I’ve driven this road sometimes eight to 10 times a day (and) I’ve never seen one incident.” However, according to a City report, Mr Date is in the minority in opposing the upgrades, with 88 per cent of respondents from the affected streets claimed to support the installation of permanent slowing devices.

Figures released following a two-week trial of chicanes on the road in February, 2017 showed while their impact reduced traffic on the streets by only about 4 per cent per day, instances of speeding dramatically dropped.

They showed drivers exceeding 70km/h on the 50km/h road dropped from 35 a day to seven, while drivers travelling between 60km/h and 70km/h dropped by 83 per cent and drivers travelling between 50km/h and 60km/h dropped by about 40 per cent.