A coroner has taken the unusual step of writing to the government before an inquest ended, strongly urging it to fix an intersection where two men had taken their own lives.
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Coroner Bernadette Boss was overseeing an inquiry into the death of a 24-year-old driver who died at the intersection of Mount Ainslie Drive and Fairbairn Avenue.
That crash, on August 1, followed another in similar circumstances on March 15 last year. And on August 6, another person tried to take their own life in the same way. They survived.
Dr Boss found the physical design of the intersection was a matter of public safety.
"There is a significant risk to persons who would wish to engage in acts of self-harm at the location," she said.
"Additionally, there is a risk to innocent bystanders and other road users who might be travelling on Fairbairn Avenue."
She said that without mitigation measures, it would only be a matter of time until innocent road users were injured or killed.
After receiving information from the police about the most recent crash, Dr Boss said that given the seriousness and urgency of the situation she had taken the unusual step of writing to Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury before the inquest had finished.
"I strongly urged the minister to consider immediately implementing a traffic calming solution on Mount Ainslie Drive to slow drivers and prevent them from entering the intersection of Mount Ainslie Drive and Fairbairn Avenue at high speed," she said in a decision published recently.
"I noted that while any permanent change would require planning, funding and time to implement, I considered a temporary measure could and should be implemented immediately."
Dr Boss said Mr Rattenbury told her he shared her concerns and had already requested work be started to address the problem.
He said temporary measures were to have been implemented that day, and the relevant directorates were working with police to identify longer term road infrastructure to deter similar incidents in the future. Temporary measures are now in place.
Dr Boss recommended the government introduce a permanent road infrastructure measure at the intersection.
The coroner said there was not a need in this case to hold a public hearing in relation to the 24-year-old's death.
"It is my sincere hope that my recommendations to government in this matter might constitute a lasting legacy from [the young man's] untimely death."
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