A PARAMEDIC’S calls to Bathurst Regional Council have been answered with the announcement that a new pedestrian safety program for Mount Panorama may be on the way.
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Ambulance Service of NSW Inspector Rhys Dive pleaded with council earlier this week after a second serious accident on the Mount Panorama this year.
On Monday afternoon a 17-year-old pedestrian was left with head, hip and arm injuries and airlifted to Westmead Hospital after a cyclist collided with her on The Esses.
While on January 18, a 43-year-old motorcyclist from Yetholme was killed on Forrest’s Elbow after a Toyota Prado four-wheel-drive collided with him.
The crash also left a 14-year-old pillion passenger with serious injuries and she was airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital.
Inspector Dive told the Western Advocate on Wednesday that the biggest problem with the track was that he believed some people were either not aware of, or don’t follow the road rules.
While there is a warning sign just over 300 metres from the track’s main entrance, he said this was just not enough.
He said people, especially visitors, often don’t realise that it was two-way traffic, that the speed limit was 60km/h and that pedestrians frequently walk the track.
Mayor Gary Rush said he was hopeful an application for a Mount Panorama pedestrian safety program with Roads and Maritime Services will be successful.
The project application was lodged on April 23, and follows background work and studies by council’s road safety officer.
Council has an active focus on road safety and a number of pedestrian safety programs would be rolled out.
“Information, advice and education are consistently promoted in an effort to keep all road users safe on all road networks, be they local, state or national roads,” Cr Rush said.
Inspector Dive welcomed any reason to improve the safety of everyone, including pedestrians, on the Mount and said council should play an active role in safety.
