Drivers will be banned from turning right on a notorious stretch of one of Kirkcaldy’s busiest routes.
Members of Fife Council’s Kirkcaldy area committee have agreed to promote a new traffic regulation order (TRO) which will formally prohibit right turns at the junctions of Park Road and Mitchelston Drive with Dunnikier Way, which runs along the north of the town.
It comes after transport officials carried out a study of traffic collision cluster sites throughout the region, which highlighted a number of incidents at that stretch of Dunnikier Way.
Most were associated with emerging traffic and further on-site investigations revealed the highest risk manoeuvres involved motorists exiting side roads to turn right.
Changes were made to signs and road alignment to try to persuade drivers to make left turns instead but many motorists have been ignoring the instructions, forcing the council’s hand.
The formal TRO will give Police Scotland the power to take enforcement action against any drivers who disobey the signs and continue to make the risky move right across the junction.
Phil Clarke, traffic management lead consultant, said the cost of delivering the associated traffic management works will be around £5,000 but it will be money well spent if it prevents further accidents.
“This has been one our worst crash site records for a number of years,” he said.
An 81-year-old man died after being struck by a car on Dunniker Way in November.
The accident was only yards away from the junction now subject to the formal turning prohibition.
Meanwhile, town councillors have also agreed to increase the parking limit on Kirkcaldy’s Hunter Street from one hour to two hours following a request from local businesses.
Members accepted that the nature of businesses in the area typically requires customers to park for longer than that time.
Four positive responses were received to a consultation and councillors have approved the restriction to two hours.
The extra hour will be charged in line with comparable parking restrictions in other areas.
