Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Cyclist trapped under lorry at dangerous Hornsey junction
A cyclist who was crushed under the wheels of a tipper lorry in a rush hour collision has prompted safety fears over a “dangerous” junction.
The man, in his 30s, was caught under the truck as it turned left onto Tottenham Lane from High Street, Hornsey, on Monday morning.
Firefighters freed the victim and he was treated at hospital for a serious leg injury more than half an hour after the incident at 8.15am. His injuries are not life-changing.
Residents and cycling campaigners claim the junction − near the railway bridge and crossed every day by hundreds of children on their way to school − is an “accident blackspot”.
They are calling on Haringey Council to urgently overhaul the junction to make it safer for all.
Adam Coffman, of the Haringey Cycling Campaign who lives nearby, said: “I use it regularly and it’s a horrible junction. If, as a cyclist, you’re going straight on [towards Muswell Hill from Turnpike Lane] you’re going slowly because it’s uphill so the potential for a conflict is absolutely huge. Accident blackspots like this need to be tackled especially if Haringey is trying to encourage people to use their bikes.”
There have been four accidents at this site, but Transport for London did not attribute them to the junction layout.
In 2009, the council increased the width of the pavement along this stretch of the High Street, but critics claim it has just made it more cramped for road users.
A resident of New River Village, a housing estate opposite the scene of the crash, called the junction “horrendous”. The woman, who survived a crash in which three others died in Greenwich, added: “There is low visibility coming up from the hill for drivers as they are turning left into the road where the victim was knocked down.
“Having been in a bad car crash of my own I do think that something needs to be done by the council to assist people not only crossing the road on the zebra crossing but also for cyclists.”
A council spokeswoman said the council is due to consult residents on Hornsey issues in November, adding: “If this location is identified as a concern we will investigate further.”
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Richard on
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Honestly, its the state of the roads that are potential greater cause of accidents for cyclists. White Hart Lane is an absolute mine field particularly as you approach the A10. That's where the time of the council should be focussed.
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Parents and schools, particularly parents of St Mary's school, fought a long battle with Haringey several years ago re the road under the bridge and the speed. Haringey council took virtually no notice and as a token widened the pavement on one side but they did not get the point that the traffic needed slowing down. In my view it is absolutely crazy to have a short stretch between two junctions which is effectively a dual carriage way. We have had soooo many near misses as pedestrians and cyclists. Sadly a roads danger level is based on the number of deaths it seems....
Oh an New River were supposed to spend quite a significant amount of money on the road outside and approach to station as part of the deal when it was built. I wonder where that money went...
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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This intersection is extremely dangerous. As has been stated the traffic approaches fairly quickly but also comes across what is effectively a hidden crossing, with little time to react to pedestrians crossing it and to stop. The concern from the driver's point of view is that they won't have time to react and may have the vehicle behind not reacting in time and possibly shunting them.
Not sure what could be done to change the situation except to put in another set of lights, coordinated with the set at Church Lane. There are already pedestrain lights at the intersection discussed, put in as a result of the New River development. Now need to upgrade to a full set of lights.
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I agree re the New River Village pedestrian crossing. In my time of walking my son to school under the bridge prior to moving on to the ladder (we now use Hornsey Railway bridge instead) I have seen a huge number of cars jumping the lights at this pedestrian crossing as they are rearing to go to speed down the hill and get first in line at the Turnpike Lane junction. I think that if they were to put in cyclists paths, cyclist boxes at the crossing and at the junction, and put some effective speed restrictions in place this route could be made a lot safer. But alas Haringey is as usual all talk and no action and seem to be quite happy to continue to favour drivers over residents choosing greener alternatives of transport. This stretch of road also seems to be a horrid divider of the borough. I dread to think what will happen to the traffic if the Heartlands Development goes ahead.
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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Agree with the comments here about this section of road, it is a horrible place for cyclists. I used to cycle this way most days and there is something particularly tricky about the combination of you going slowly (puffing up the hill under the railway bridge) and drivers overtaking you towards the top and then turning left. I once had a very similar encounter with a bus and ever since have approached that junction with special care and attention.
I'd not been aware of the promises made in relation to the New River developments. Does anyone know any more about that?
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On the day of the accident I contacted all local (Hornsey ward) councillors, emailed Haringey Council and the relevant MP expressing my concern about this dangerous junction (I'm a cyclist and am sure one day someone will die there). Cllr Reid today emailed me the (bland, complacent) response he received from an officer in response to his raising the issue. Here are the contents:
From: Kennedy Tony
Sent: 19 October 2011 15:43
To: Cllr Reid Errol
Cc: Smith Derek; Selby Jane
Subject: FW: Accident today/Improvements needed - LBH/0048511Dear Cllr Reid,
Thank you for your email regarding the junction of Turnpike Lane with Tottenham Lane, that has been passed to me for attention. I have noted the contents of your email and the attached resident’s email and have the following comments to make.
We regret any collision on our roads, it is understood that, fortunately, the injuries sustained by the cyclist involved in the collision at the junction of Turnpike Lane with Tottenham Lane yesterday are non-life threatening and non-life changing. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and we will await the outcome of their investigations.
According to accident data provided by TfL, there have been 4 recorded personal injury accidents at the junction of Turnpike Lane with Tottenham Lane in the last 3 years. None of them were attributed to the junction layout.
We have signed up to Transport for London’s HGV Driver Training Scheme and continue to encourage HGV drivers in the Borough to obtain their Certificates of Professional Competence – that now includes a module relating specifically to cycle safety. We also provide this training to all our HGV drivers.
We are due to commence consultation in the Hornsey Area in November as part of our Hornsey DIY Streets project. If this location is identified through this process we will investigate it further. At present however it is not regarded as a dangerous junction.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Kennedy
Group Manager
Transport Policy and Projects
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