Petition for 40mph limit to cut A167 accident rate (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Petition for 40mph limit to cut A167 accident rate

11:25am Friday 3rd July 2009

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CALLS are being made for a 40mph speed limit on one of the main roads into Darlington from the A1.

A petition is under way seeking a restriction on the A167 Durham Road, which passes through Coatham Mundeville and Beaumont Hill, where there have been serious crashes in recent years.

Ward councillor Brian Jones began the petition and is leading calls for an end to the present 60mph limit.

“The A167 has a very poor track record in terms of road accidents,” he said.

“During the past three years, there have been two fatalities, three serious injuries and seven accidents in which cars were damaged between the borough boundary and Beaumont Hill.”

He felt these figures were misleading because accidents happened every week that were not reported.

“Serious accidents are obviously highlighted, but vehicles go off that road all the time. Residents have their gateposts smashed and fences knocked over regularly, which shows how dangerous the road can be.”

In January 2007, a lorry driver died after his vehicle collided head-on with a bus near Coatham Mundeville.

by Neil Macfarlane neil.macfarlane@dst.co.uk Safety measures and warning signs have been introduced, but Coun Jones said these were insufficient.

“I believe the speed limit should be reduced, and it must be rigorously enforced,” he said.

“There is a plan to have all local speed limits examined by 2011, but that will be too late.

“If the accident rate continues, many more could be hurt or worse.

The wheels are turning too slowly, something needs to be done quickly.

If we are serious about reducing deaths on that road, we need action now.”

Coun Jones said there had been a tremendous response to the petition, with no-one declining to sign it.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said the authority worked with the police to monitor roads in relation to speed and accidents.

“We are reviewing speed limits on all A and B class roads in the borough and surveys are being done to monitor traffic speed. This will identify whether speed limits on the A167 are right for road conditions.

“In recent years, we have introduced safety measures along the A167, in particular near Coatham Mundeville junctions, which included improved signs and road markings, as well as a vehicle-activated sign that flashes to remind motorists to slow down.”

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