The wrong way

By Jade Lawton
CONFUSED drivers unfamiliar with Cardinia Road have been seen turning the wrong way down the Princes Highway, narrowly avoiding head-on collisions with oncoming traffic.
Former Lakeside resident Wayne Lording said he was shocked to see a car coming towards him at 80 km/h on a recent family drive.
“I had the family in the car and would have been doing the 80 km/h limit. They were probably doing 80 as well. I don’t think that person even knew they were on the wrong side of the road,” he said.
“Basically, people get off Cardinia Road to turn right on the Princes Highway, and because it is dual lane they turn on the wrong side of the road – they don’t know they have to cross to the other side.
“Especially at night, it is such a dark intersection. They need either arrows, or flashing lights or something.”
Lakeside Inc president Jack Mitchell said he had seen a car driving on the wrong side of the highway as recently as this week.
“It’s very easy to do.
“Only a week or so ago, we were going towards Officer, coming up over the hill near Arena and there was a car coming towards us. Then he did a u-turn and another u-turn and came towards us again,” Mr Mitchell said.
Sergeant Nigel Atkins, of Cardinia’s Highway Patrol, confirmed that police had received reports of drivers on the wrong side of the highway.
“VicRoads installed appropriate signage at the intersection some six to eight months ago, but people still don’t look,” he said.
Eastern Victoria MP Edward O’Donohue said the issue was ongoing.
“I have been contacted by a number of people concerned about this. It’s not clear,” he said.
“Given the number of new people in the area, I think more needs to be done.”