By Alesha Capone
A driver whose car was hit by another vehicle at Hopkins and Boundary roads in Tarneit is campaigning for a roundabout to be installed at what he describes as a “death trap” intersection.
Tomas Van Duijne, started a Change.org petition after his car was T-boned at the intersection on August 24, when another vehicle allegedly failed to give way.
More than 850 people have since signed the petition.
“There must be a means to an end of the dangerous intersection that thousands of people travel on every day, as they head into the western suburbs or out,” the petition states.
Mr Van Duijne said he was “pretty amazed” at the response to the petition. Although there are rumble strips installed on the road near the intersection, he believes constructing a roundabout would be more effective in getting drivers to slow down.
“I just want something to be done – it’s just a death trap,” he said.
“I don’t want anyone to experience what I experienced.”
Mr Van Duijne, 22, said he felt “very lucky” to not have been badly injured in the accident, in which his car’s airbags released.
He has avoided driving through the intersection since.
VicRoads manages Derrimut-Hopkins Road, and Wyndham council manages Boundary Road.
The Department of Transport’s director of transport and planning (roads), David Teague, said: “We recently reduced the speed limit from 80 km/h to 60 km/h on the Derrimut-Hopkins Road between Dohertys Road and Middle Road in Truganina.
“This 60km/h speed limit will boost safety by reducing the risk and impact of crashes as well as providing drivers travelling on Boundary Road with more time to safely cross over the Derrimut-Hopkins Road, particularly during the busy afternoon peak.”
Wyndham council was contacted for comment.
