Chaos rules

By Nicole Williams
NEW road rules are causing chaos for drivers on Langhorne Street, Dandenong.
Drivers, who are unaware of the changes, are being slugged with fines and losing demerit points because of poor signs.
The new road rules on Langhorne Street, between Walker and Lonsdale streets, only came into force on 27 May after VicUrban completed an upgrade.
Drivers can only enter and exit Langhorne Street via Walker Street, to access The Hub car park and drivers on Lonsdale Street can no longer turn into Langhorne Street at all.
Nearby hairdresser Simon Lee said the new road rules at the intersection had made it ‘chaotic’.
“It can be dangerous for people who are not familiar with the signs,” Mr Lee said.
“You can see people get nervous and panic. A lot of cars don’t know what to do.”
Peter, a local business owner, said he saw up to 50 cars doing the wrong thing during the day, particularly during peak times, and it is because the signs are unclear.
In the half hour the Star was watching the street, we witnessed 10 or more cars driving illegally in the short section of road.
“You have to be VicRoads to understand those signs,” Peter said.
“If you stop and ask anyone (turning illegally), they will tell you they didn’t know.”
Christopher Hermann, development director of VicUrban, which developed the street as part of Dandenong’s revitalisation project, said Langhorne Street would function as a premium bus stop and completed works have created a dedicated bus exit from Langhorne onto Lonsdale streets.
“VicUrban and VicRoads have in the last week installed additional signage advising motorists of this change,” Mr Hermann said.
VicRoads acting regional director Anita Curnow said bus operators had been asked to report any issues around the new conditions and all feedback including those from local businesses would be taken into account to determine if additional signs were necessary.
“VicRoads, VicUrban, Department of Transport and Dandenong Council are working together to determine if further signs are required to increase driver awareness,” Ms Curnow said.
Peter said the police were stationed nearby in the first few days of the new laws and were slugging drivers with fines, but not warnings.
“Everyone involved in this area have received a fine,” Peter said.
“I don’t think they’ll fix the problem by giving fines.”
Andy Dome-Carre, a worker from the Dandenong Hub, was concentrating on watching for difficult-to-see pedestrians as he turned right on Langhorne Street from The Hub carpark on 31 May, a turn he had made many times before.
He didn’t see the police car sitting in wait for people to do the wrong thing.
Mr Dome-Carre was slugged with a $239 fine and lost three demerit points for making an illegal turn.
“I don’t think it was fair, no effort was made to warn my workplace or other workplaces that it was going to be illegal to do a turn that was previously legal,” he said.
“And I’ve seen it a couple of times since I got fined – people are still making that turn”
VicUrban and VicRoads said police were enforcing the new arrangement and will continue to issue infringement notices.
Peter and Mr Lee said flashing lights to warn drivers, even temporarily, would help educate drivers of the new rules.