Report reveals most accident-hit roads
Roads with the highest accident rates are revealed in a report to Shropshire Council, which next week is expected to take action to cut speeding in parishes across the county. Roads with the highest accident rates are revealed in a report to Shropshire Council, which next week is expected to take action to cut speeding in parishes across the county. The worst route is shown to be the A41 from Sandford to Tern Hill roundabout, near Market Drayton, where there were 54 accidents of "all severities" - fatal, serious and slight - over a five-year period from January 2004 to December 2008. But also on the A41 during this period, there were 50 accidents at Albrighton on the county to Telford & Wrekin boundary. Other routes with particularly high accident rates include the A454 (Bridgnorth to county boundary) with 45, the A488 (Shrewsbury to Minsterley) with 43, B4364 (Bridgnorth to Ludlow) with 42, and A458 (Bridgnorth to county boundary) with 39. The roads are among a list of just over 120 which have been identified by parishes as possible locations for vehicle-activated speed signs. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
The worst route is shown to be the A41 from Sandford to Tern Hill roundabout, near Market Drayton, where there were 54 accidents of "all severities" - fatal, serious and slight - over a five-year period from January 2004 to December 2008.
But also on the A41 during this period, there were 50 accidents at Albrighton on the county to Telford & Wrekin boundary.
Other routes with particularly high accident rates include the A454 (Bridgnorth to county boundary) with 45, the A488 (Shrewsbury to Minsterley) with 43, B4364 (Bridgnorth to Ludlow) with 42, and A458 (Bridgnorth to county boundary) with 39.
The roads are among a list of just over 120 which have been identified by parishes as possible locations for vehicle-activated speed signs.
The council has already carried out a pilot project using 10 such signs in various parts of Shropshire and on Thursday a meeting of the full authority will be recommended to adopt a policy which will lead to more of the signs being used.
A council report says: "Speeding was identified as a major concern by the residents of Shropshire during the consultation for the Local Transport Plan and continues to be raised on a regular basis in correspondence to officers and members.
"Studies suggest that when drivers reduce speed, collisions are less likely and if there are collisions, at lower speeds there will be less serious injury. This is particularly true for vulnerable road users."
If adopted, the policy will also include 20mph zones at potential sign locations.
The report says that some parish councils have asked for permanent signs but this is not recommended as rotating the signs to different sites is proposed as part of the policy. They are considered to be more effective when not a constant feature, and draw more attention from drivers.
Some comments have been made that the policy is not cost effective and that speed enforcement is a police responsibility.
But the report adds that police resources to enforce speed restrictions are limited and that the policy is a "pragmatic approach to achieving some speed reduction".
By Dave Morris
