But the Dunedin motorcyclist fears for his life - and the lives of other motorists - if something is not done to improve a North Dunedin intersection he has dubbed ''suicide alley''.
Mr O'Neill said his concerns about the junction of Duke St and the city's one-way Cumberland St were highlighted on Saturday.
He was riding his bike in Cumberland St, heading south into the city centre, when a motorist pulled out from Duke St and into his path ''a matter of metres in front of my motorbike''.
Mr O'Neill said it was only because he was already ''scared witless'' of drivers coming out of the side street that gave him time to react and saved him.
''I drive like they are going to kill me.''
The intersection, opposite the Dunedin Botanic Garden, is controlled by a stop sign in Duke St.
However, Mr O'Neill, who lives in Pine Hill, said many motorists ignored the sign.
He suspected poor visibility looking left to the north from Duke St, towards Pine Hill, was partly to blame and visibility was further impeded by a large tree on the corner.
The road's curving design also reduced sight lines.
''This is an accident waiting to happen. I was almost killed on Saturday morning.''
He returned to the intersection this week, and said ''one in three'' motorists in Duke St appeared to be ignore the stop sign.
Mr O'Neill also visited the Dunedin City Council's office this week to raise his concerns and ask for improvements, as he considered it an urban design issue.
''The whole area is past its use-by date. It's designed for the 1950s and 1960s.''
The intersection was the meeting place of a city council-controlled street and State Highway 1, the latter controlled by the NZ Transport Agency.
Neither organisation was able to comment yesterday.
Council staff were initially too busy dealing with yesterday's rain to respond, but later council transportation safety team leader Hjarne Poulsen referred questions to the NZTA, saying the intersection was controlled by that organisation
An NZTA spokeswoman was also not able to answer questions yesterday, but said there would be a response to Mr O'Neill's concerns next week.
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Comments
I agree, this is a terrible intersection, especially since it's on a main road. I try to avoid it as much as possible.
I find this intersection seems to have an alternative road code working - people seem to think if they've been waiting the longest they get priority. Many times I've tried to go straight ahead and had to brake for people turning into the one way and cutting me off because they were there first.
i have to agree and its not only a danger to motorist there are alot of students that use that bit too i know i did when i went to LPHS nearly got hit afew times from Speeding cars