It really is getting boring now but the continuing saga of the motorists of Greater Manchester against Metrolink has continued during April with two further collisions – one in Wythenshawe and the other in Rochdale – to report but also hope that incidents at Holt Town may be reduced following the installation of more signage.
Starting off with the collisions and the more serious of which took place at Martinscroft on the Airport line during the evening of Friday 1st April. In this incident 3099 collided with a car causing significant damage to both vehicles but fortunately there were no serious injuries reported. The driver of the car was taken to hospital with minor injuries whilst the other occupants of the vehicle were uninjured. Greater Manchester Police tweeted that the driver had been reported for numerous offences.
Then on Monday 11th April a further collision took place in Rochdale Town Centre with 3090 and a lorry involved. The exact circumstances of what caused the incident are currently unknown with Transport for Greater Manchester declining to comment to the local press as they said it was being dealt with by the Police. Both tram and lorry suffered damage in the collision but no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile the old Metrolink favourite of “car making a wrong turning onto tramway” will hopefully be a rarer occurrence at regular location Holt Town with more “no entry” signage having been added recently. This signage – which is more than is required according to regulations – should make it pretty clear to motorists they don’t want to actually drive that way and who knows may mean we no longer have to report on this type of story again.
The new non-entry signs at Holt Town. But will it have the desired effect? (Both Photograpghs by Steve Kemp)
How long before some “intelligent” motorist thinks it is no entry for trams as the surface looks much better than most roads!
Why don’t they install tram operated barriers as GVB do in Amsterdam. A physical obstruction works every time.
Probably because it costs a fortune and the motorists would drive into them and break them.
Surprised it does not state “NO ENTRY” in 3 ft high letters across the full width of the roadway. This is the usual practice on “normal” roads.
Other places do have tram only in white paint as well. Blackpool certainly do.
Mr Cushing
Please give me a credit note for B & Q and Travis Perkins and I’ll buy a Hilti gun, some masonry fastenings and some tri-angular timber baulks.
Nail these across the tramway – you will only need about half a dozen, and I will guarantee your problem will stop. BMW and Audi drivers can’t read and have no sense, but threaten to damage their precious status symbols and they will soon get the message.
They need an elephant trap, obviously with the rails running through. It would deter the deliberate short-cutters and trap the idiots.