DRIVERS are putting lives at risk by ignoring a new turn right sign in Southend.

The sign, painted beneath traffic lights, clearly instructs drivers to turn right where the bus lane/slip road outside Southend Victoria station meets Queensway.

Yet numerous people have contacted the Echo saying the signs are being blatantly ignored.

A reporter spent an hour there watching as cars turned left into Queensway, rather than right into Chichester Road.

An increasing number of drivers, just 30 yards later, turn sharply left into Short Street, cutting through a pedestrian crossing.

Cab driver John Brandreth, 60, of Woodgrange Drive, Southend, is one of many cabbies serving the station who sees this happen “all day, every day”.

He said: “I’m asked by car drivers dropping people at the station how they should get out on to the road, and I tell them how to get safely on to Victoria Avenue so they can go to either Queensway or Chichester Road.

“But just as many ignore me, and head down the slip road and straight on to Queensway.

“Some people get close to saying they hope something will happen so the council do something.

“Sooner or later a car will hit someone crossing the road.”

Pedestrians crossing Queensway have also had many narrow escapes, assuming the only moving traffic will head down Chichester Road – and not turn left into Queensway.

Scott Trusler, 24, of Sherwood Way, Southend, who works as a forklift driver, said: “Me and my family have nearly been run over about four times crossing when the green man shows. Car drivers come down the slip road and don’t even signal before turning onto Queensway.”

The road network around Victoria railway station was overhauled earlier this year as part of Southend Council’s £7million Victoria Gateway scheme.

The revamp, which was completed in March, included replacing the roundabout outside the station with a T-junction and installing a controversial shared space zone for buses, taxis and pedestrians.

Southend Council says it is aware of the problem.

Spokesman John Troup said: “Ignoring those signs is a moving traffic offence and we are confident if car drivers do obey the signs, the traffic light sequence is safe. However, under the circumstances we will be taking a close look at what we can and we will be informing the police.”