Last month, a car driven by an elderly person slammed into Fairfield Books on Station Street, when the driver’s foot got stuck onto the accelerator while he was reversing out of the car park across the street.
Another car crashed into a bakery in the same busy Fairfield shopping strip after Christmas.
Luckily, no one was hurt.
Rania Drossas is the owner of Tasty Souvlaki in Fairfield, where the first car backed in late March.
“If it happened three minutes earlier it would have been a massacre because there were fifteen people sitting at the tables outside,” Ms Drossas said.
“The woman driving reversed straight into the shop.”
The Greek Australian woman stressed the need for barriers in order to prevent fatal accidents and inconsiderate drivers from taking illegal U-turns.
Tasty Souvlaki was severely damaged, although proprietor Rania Drossas hopes she will be able to reopen soon.
“Such accidents would continue to happen unless action was taken to stop cars reversing from the other side of the road over the median strip,” she continued.
“Barricades in the middle like they have in Lygon St would work.
“Even if the middle of the road was elevated this would help.”
Several shop owners agreed barriers were necessary, however, Station St Traders’ Association president Domenic Biviano insisted it was impractical.
“The recent accidents were ‘freakish’ and there’d been no similar incidents during the past 20 years so it was unlikely to happen again,” Mr Biviano explained.
“Drivers need to slow down, concentrate and observe what’s happening around them.”
The local authority appeared concerned but made it clear no changes are bound to be applied for the time being.
“Reports indicate these types of incidents have occurred as a result of simple driver error, namely mistakenly confusing the accelerator and brake pedals,” stated north west regional director Adam Maguire.
“Measures and treatments to maintain a high level of safety for all road users along the Station St shopping precinct in Fairfield are in place.
“These include a 40km/h speed limit between 8.00 am and midnight Monday to Sunday, pedestrian refuge areas, painted pedestrian crossings and a painted centre median.”
Northcote Sergeant Keith, Jordan on the other hand, said police were investigating the predicaments, whilst increasing patrols and traffic enforcement in Station St.