HATE them or love them, Manchester's rising bollards have been a resounding success for safety - even though some motorists have been left counting the cost.

The bollards, which can be raised or lowered for authorised users, have eliminated injuries to pedestrians in what was once an accident black spot.

The restrictions were introduced in 2006 after 22 incidents in three years close to Cross Street and St Mary's Gate in the city centre. Two years later that figure has dropped to zero, according to the council.

The steel bollards rise to restrict entry, but lower for buses and emergency services vehicles. Since they were installed at various locations some cars have tried to tailgate buses to get through.

The results have left drivers regetting their actions.

A video clip of the tailgaters prompted huge interest when it was first aired at the M.E.N website www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk, attracting hundreds of thousands of hits.

It showed a number of drivers nursing injuries and left with wrecked vehicles.

At the time Neil Swannick, from Manchester council, said their actions `beggared belief'.

Some drivers complained about a `lack of warning signs'.

But Coun Swannick said warning signs were in place and drivers who ignored them were being `very foolish'. The figures also reveal that there have been `13 collisions resulting in recorded injuries'.

Of those, 10 involved vehicles ignoring the restrictions and driving into the bollards as they attempted but failed to tailgate buses.

But it would appear the message is finally hitting home. A council spokesman said: "The number of collisions is also decreasing as 10 of the 13 occurred in 2006, compared with two in 2007 and one so far this year.

"Drivers should be aware that ignoring the traffic signs and attempting to tailgate the Metroshuttle buses risks serious injury to themselves and their passengers."

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