| COLLISION STATISTICS PROMPT REVAMP OF PEASEDOWN BYPASS AFTER RECENT NEARBY FATAL CRASH -14th Jan '08 |
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During last
year's urgent talks which took place on the bypass junction with Orchard Way,
another collision took place while officers, councillors and police traffic
officers were observing the difficulties for drivers and pedestrians on this
stretch of the A367.
Cllr
Sarah Bevan said:
"I am
very pleased that all the initial safety improvements I agreed with the officers
present have now been completed. These include re-painting of the hatching on
the approach to the new estate, replacement of warning signs to drivers with
yellow boards and the inclusion in the council's transport programme for this
financial year of a pedestrian refuge island where the bridleway crosses the
bypass."
Officers agreed
that although the number of accidents did not warrant speed restriction cameras,
there were a number of features on this stretch of road which contributed to
them, including an unnecessary extra lane for Radstock bound traffic, making the
bypass three lanes wide.
Cllr Bevan
added:
"It is
very unfortunate that government guidelines only permit speed cameras on roads
where there have been three or more fatal or near fatal accidents within a
period of three years over a road length of one kilometre. I know that residents
around here who regularly hear accidents occurring around their properties which
back on to this road feel that this is a callous and cavalier attitude to road
safety".
The moves come
after an illegally parked lorry was shunted into a resident's wall over the
Christmas period, despite letters from the police warning that lorries not
illuminated at night were vulnerable. This is the second such vehicle parked on
this spot to suffer major damage when night drivers emerge from nearby
junctions.
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