Danger road needs improvements, motorists claim
CALLS are being made for a stretch of the A40 to become a dual carriageway following a death on the road.
A head-on collision near Windrush on Wednesday lunchtime killed a 49-year-old van driver from Longhope.
Regular commuters on the road from Cheltenham to Oxford have described the road as a "nightmare" that is getting worse.
One motorist said: "I commute to Cheltenham from Oxford everyday on this road and it is a nightmare and is getting worse.
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"Not just because of people's decisions to overtake at the wrong time but the amount of restricted trucks amongst an increasing by the day amount of cars, that are using this road.
"It needs to be duel carriageway all the way to cope with the demand. This would provide a quicker route to Oxford and London and flow of traffic would be much better."
The reader of ThisIsGloucestershire said there was no train-link to Oxford, nor a frequent bus service, so improvement to the road was the only option.
The A40 stretch from Northleach to the Gloucestershire border had seen just one fatality from 2007 until this week's collision.
There had also been two serious crashes in 2008 along with 15 slight accidents from 2007 until half way through 2012.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said: "The Road Safety Partnership manages all collision data collected by the police to assess where safety measures are needed and carry out action where necessary.
"We're very sorry to hear about this tragic collision and our sympathies are with all of those involved. The police are in the process of carrying out a thorough investigation to determine what happened."
One motorist described the stretch from Northleach to Burford as an "absolutely shocking piece of road".
Another added: "This is a lethal stretch of road.
"There are several dips that you don't realise are there so overtaking is a nightmare.
"I am always on tenterhooks when driving along here."
The latest fatality saw a collision between a heavy goods vehicle, travelling towards Cheltenham, and a blue Peugeot van that was driving towards Burford.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the lorry driver suffered minor injuries.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, that have not spoken to Gloucestershire police should contact them on 101, quoting incident number 159 of September 19.
Comments
by safeandnice
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:35PM
“Matt you dont even know the speed of the vehicles yet you claim a reduction in speed limit speed cameras is part of the best that could be hoped for? and ask yourself if most drivers take more care at higher speeds than lower speeds.
Better signing than what? If it's already best how do you propose making it better?
Right turn filter lanes might help keep traffic moving but it's traffic turning right out of a side road that usually has greatest difficulty. A centre refuge or ban right turns?
Early on you said the cause needs to established. Lets halt there before proposing things that might make it worse.
Did anyone see what happened? Did someone make a mistake?”
by Matt1006
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:08PM
“There have been a number of bad accidents on this stretch of road over the years, and now another fatality. But, as is always the case at "accident blackspots", the overwhelming majority of traffic passes through without incident. So for 99.999% of the time, there isn't a problem. Drivers pulling risky overtakes due to impatience cannot be used as a catalyst for road widening (not that there is any current evidence / suggestion that such a move caused this latest death).
The cause/s of this latest incident need to be established first before any suggestions of road improvements are made. If it turns out it was due to a mechanical failure on one of the vehicles involved, or a health issue with one of the drivers, then the road is not to blame. Being a dual carriageway with a central barrier should prevent head-on crashes, but an accident would still occur.
Sadly I don't think this stretch of A40 will be dualled for many years yet, if ever. The stretch between Witney & the outskirts of Oxford has needed widening for many years - the room is there to do it, but it hasn't been done. I think the best that can hoped for at Windrush is a reduction in the speed limit, speed cameras, better signing, right-turn filter lanes etc.”