I have just read the online Rye News article ("An accident waiting to happen") posted on September 17 by Dennis Leeds-George.
He describes how "Last winter I was driving from Rye Harbour to Rye at night in the fog and, due to poor visibility, the white line on the cycle path gave the impression that that was the edge of the road - and not the kerb stones, which are a foot away on the road side from the white line marking on the path.
"I nearly hit the kerb which, not only could have damaged my car, but could also have caused a nasty accident. It is difficult at night to see the kerb and more so if you get dazzled by the oncoming traffic, as the white line is visible - but not the kerb.
"There should be some kind of marking to make the kerb more visible to motorists".
On reading his account I was reminded of the occasion when a colleague of mine (we are community nurses) stopped to assist a motorcyclist who had come off his motorbike on the Harbour Road.
He had experienced the same problem as Mr Leeds-George, only on this occasion the white line did result in an accident.
I drive along Harbour Road quite frequently and fully endorse the opinion that the white line on the pavement is misleading to motorists. There is a total lack of marking or definition of the kerb which visually merges with the road - an impression supported by the pavement marking - resulting in actual or potential accidents.
Janet Warren's complaint to East Sussex County Council's FixMyStreet website was also supported by quotes from The Traffic Signs Manual (2003).
"L1.8 Nevertheless, road markings make a vital contribution to safety eg... by delineating the the road edge on unlit roads at night" and "1.10 For road markings to be effective they must be clearly visible both by day and by night".
Also "1.11 On unlit roads at night conditions are very different ; the visual stimuli in the distance and to the sides of the road are largely absent. Road markings then become the most important aid in enabling the driver to follow the road".
And "4.32 Trials have shown that edge markings have merit as a safety measure" and also "4.35 . Markings might be particularly appropriate...along lengths prone to fog and mist"... not unknown around Rye Harbour.
Janet Warren
Photo: Rye News photographer
