Crossword Genius

Vertical wooden posts in the street save accident (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

staves

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'vertical wooden posts' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'street save accident' is the wordplay.
'street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'save accident' becomes 'aves' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'st'+'aves'='STAVES'

'in the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for staves that I've seen before include "Lines in a music score" , "Barrel pieces; verses" , "Verses. stanzas" , "Slats" , "Lines in a musical score; parts of a barrel" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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