Dulwich Village drivers have been left bamboozled by two near-identical signs that have totally different meanings.
The sign on the left, on Dulwich Village, means vehicles are not allowed to turn left onto Calton Avenue and will receive a penalty charge notice if they do so.
But the sign on the right, on Lordship Lane, outside Dulwich Library, means vehicles are permitted to turn left onto Eynella Road.
Local campaign group One Dulwich wrote to Southwark Highways saying the signs were “creating an accident hazard”.
“As drivers see the signs, they become confused and stop at the junction while they try and work out what they mean. Most then drive on, believing they can’t turn in to Eynella Road”, they explained.
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Southwark Highways said it had simplified the Lordship Lane sign because there are so many roads between Dulwich Library and the Dulwich Village junction.
However, the result is that some drivers are led to believe that the closure applies to Eynella Junction.
Local resident Pippa said she couldn’t believe “how daft the flipping signs are” and she “didn’t really understand what it meant” when the signs were erected.
When she asked Southwark Highways to explain its meaning, she says they simply directed her to the highway code.
Richard Aldwinckle, a spokesperson for One Dulwich, said: “Not only are they inaccurate and dangerous, but residents living on streets in this part of Dulwich are now finding that visitors, carers, taxi drivers, tradespeople and others no longer access the area through the Eynella Road junction, in the mistaken belief that they will be fined if they do.
“This particularly impacts the elderly and those with mobility problems, who depend on people who offer vital services being able to reach them quickly and easily.”
Cllr Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Parks, Streets and Clean Air, said: “Although cars and motorbikes can turn left after the Lordship Lane sign, there is nowhere for them to continue their journey, much beyond this point. This is because there are restrictions in place beyond the turn, in both directions. These create dead ends for cars and motorbikes.
“However, we are reviewing concerns raised about the sign and investigating other options.”