Potentially confusing road markings on the same high street where four people were hit by buses last year have been defended.
The road markings at a pedestrian crossing on Stockton High Street feature an arrow indicating the direction of traffic followed by a “BUS LANE” marking, facing the opposite direction, just a few feet along.
Concerns have been raised that the markings could make the direction of traffic unclear for pedestrians using the crossing.
But Stockton Council has defended the layout and markings saying that they meet national guidelines.
Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said: “The direction of the bus lane text ensures drivers turning right into the high street are aware that the nearest lane is a contra-flow bus lane, while the arrow shows the direction of traffic.
“The markings are in place to help drivers exit the junction safely and are in accordance with national guidelines.”
However an MP has said that the road markings could create confusion and has called for the council to use some common sense.
James Wharton, MP for Stockton South, said: “These markings make it hard to tell which direction traffic originates, the arrow appears to show that traffic should go one way with the direction of the “BUS LANE” writing indicating it would be coming from the other.
“Given the terrible accidents in recent months what we need is clarity.
“This should be straightforward and marked in a way that is easily understood.
“Whoever did this clearly did not step back when they had finished to consider the result of their efforts.
“Stockton Council needs to look again with some common sense and really does need to get this right before someone else is hurt.”
Mr Wharton previously called for an urgent review of the layout of Stockton High Street following a number of accidents in which pedestrians were hit by buses.
Speaking to The Gazette in December last year, Mr Wharton said: “The change to the layout means that you need to look in both directions when crossing the road at a number of points, where previously buses only came from one direction.
“It is speculated that this confusion might be a cause of the increase in incidents.”
The controversial road markings are close to the spot where Kelly Marie Evis, from Stockton, was hit by a bus last year. She later died from her injuries.
An inquest found that Miss Evis’s death on September 30 had been an accident.
Acting senior Teesside coroner Clare Bailey said she was satisfied that steps are being taken to make the area as safe as possible.
Since Miss Evis’s accident, a further three people were hit by buses on the high street.
Two survived but Dorothy Bryan, who suffered serious injuries after being hit by a bus on December 4 last year, died on February 24.
In December Stockton Council said it was carrying out a “thorough safety audit” after the accidents.
The authority has not yet released details of its findings.
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