A Kingswood intersection is being labelled a death trap by a local resident after she experienced a near miss – now she is asking Council to improve its safety.
Diane Miller is bringing attention to the roundabout intersection where Derby Street meets Bringelly Road.
It was at this intersection earlier this year that Miller nearly got hit by an oncoming car.
“The traffic comes to you from eight places… and it is coming fast,” Miller said.
“I was very nearly killed a few months ago exactly here. There was a break in the traffic, and I started to cross, and I got one quarter of the way across the road… from God knows where a 4WD came out and very nearly hit me. A young guy, I owe my life to this young guy, put his hands up and stopped.
“They come far too fast, and they can come far too fast around Derby Street or from Bringelly Road and as I say that is eight lots of traffic you have to deal with. I only got a quarter of the way across, and they just came so quickly, so it is indeed a death trap.
“It’s a disgrace and my life is only here due to the courtesy of some driver who pulled up.”
Miller said not only is her near miss behind her push to get traffic lights at the intersection but also the number of accidents that happen there.
“This is death trap corner!” she said.
“Because of the number of small accidents outside my unit, because of the impossibility of crossing between 8am and 9am.
“I’ve had [young] boys of about 16-years-old take me by the arm and take me across the road. The traffic is so bad, it’s chaos in the morning. It is absolutely chaotic.”
Miller has reached out to her local members, Karen McKeown and Melissa McIntosh, who have both made representations on her behalf, but Miller said that Council isn’t doing anything to improve safety.
“Council have inspected this and they tell me indeed it is dangerous for pedestrians, but the traffic department claim there is not enough traffic to warrant lights,” she said.
“Initially I was told that they could not afford it, well when human life is involved, I do not accept that. What the hell do you think we are paying rates for? What’s the cost of a human life? They couldn’t care less actually.”
Penrith City Council responded to Miller’s request saying there is not enough traffic to warrant the implementation of lights.
“Penrith City Council has thoroughly investigated the concerns for a signalised intersection and have determined the Transport for NSW standards for the installation of traffic signals are not met at this location,” a Council spokesperson said.
“The current traffic conditions remain similar to those previously investigated on other occasions this year and do not warrant traffic signals.
“Whilst Council appreciate the ongoing concern and are not proposing any changes to the intersection at this time, we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the recently constructed speed humps at the roundabout at this location.”
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.