Road safety campaigners want traffic bosses to install a pair of pedestrian crossings at a “scary” crossroads on the Holloway Road.
The junctions of Palmer Place and Drayton Park with the A1 have been branded a “disaster waiting to happen” by backers of Andrew Spencer’s petition, which has so far gained 259 signatures.
They are now calling on Islington Council and Transport for London (TfL) to give pedestrians time to cross. At the moment, people on foot have no choice but to dash across the road during the gaps between cars and lorries.
Andrew, 37, told the Gazette the area presents a major threat to pedestrians’ safety.
“There are lots of shops around here, and it’s a main walkway for the Holloway Road Tube station,” he said.
“But there’s nothing here for pedestrians to use to cross safely.”
TfL’s head of network sponsorship Graham Nash told the Gazette transport chiefs were “investigating a number of improvements along Holloway Road to improve safety, including the Drayton Park/Palmer Place junction”.
He added: “We will continue to work with Islington Council on this and other safety improvements across the borough.”
Andrew’s petition was launched at the start of the month. One signatory, Sam Mills, said: “I’m fit, healthy and in my 20s and this junction scares me. I can’t imagine how bad it must be for those who are elderly or have additional needs.”
Islington’s transport boss Cllr Claudia Webbe said: “Road safety is a key priority for Islington, and we’re calling for major safety improvements along the whole of Holloway Road, from Highbury Corner to Archway.”
She told the Gazette the council will continue to work with TfL to “make the road safer for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and all road users”.
Changes can’t come soon enough, Andrew said: “The only way to cross here is to watch the traffic lights closely and take your chances.
“This is a particular issue for older people, those with children, or people who can’t walk very fast.
“This is something that needs to be dealt with. It will be awful if it takes a bad accident or fatality in order to have a pedestrian crossing here.”
You can view the petition here.
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