Drivers worry lack of road markings will result in ‘someone being killed’ at roundabout
Drivers have shared concerns about safety at the Deanery Road Roundabout in Warmley, with some even saying ‘someone will be killed’ on the roundabout if faded road markings are nor repainted. A number of drivers have reported the faded road markings to South Gloucestershire Council with claims they are not visible when driving.
Road markings are one of the easiest and quickest ways of providing drivers with the information they need to drive a specific patch of road safely. But when road markings aren’t clear enough, accidents are more likely to occur, and this is what driver fear may happen at the roundabout in Warmley.
Back in January, The Week In reported on the issue of the worn-out road markings and at the time South Gloucestershire[1] Council said the work would be completed in the spring “when the weather[2] improves”. However no work seems to have taken place at the roundabout.
What makes the poor road markings at the Deanery Roundabout such an issue is the fact it can confuse drivers using the road. Not only that, it also forms part of one of the test routes for driving tests in the city, and it has had a knock on effect on their ability to pass.
(Image: Paul Gillis)
Local driving instructor, Richard Sweeting, said last week: “Since July 2022, I have been reporting an issue to South Gloucestershire Council[4] regarding the faded road markings.”
“This roundabout is one used on driving test routes and recently, one of my students failed their test, the reason being stated as ‘incorrect positioning’ on this roundabout. This was due to these faded, and almost non-existence road markings.”
Another diving instructor in the local area, Matthew Stroud, took to Facebook[5] to share his grievances with the markings. He said: “We are supposed to teach people to drive, i.e., follow signs and road markings, but it all falls apart when you can’t see the road markings. We (instructors) then have to revert to getting students to memorise the roundabouts which isn’t teaching people to drive, it’s turning them into robots.”
He went on to say: “One day someone will be killed on this roundabout. If it was my family member, I’d be asking why did it happen? They will start rushing when there’s a fatality involving a bike as a result of drivers not knowing what lane they need.”
(Image: Paul Gillis)
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council told The Week In: “We are currently carrying out a significant programme of work to refresh the lane markings along large sections of the A4174 which include those at Deanery Road Roundabout.
“We have already begun refreshing the centre and edge of carriageway lines between Hicks Gate Roundabout and the M32.” Content provided in association with Ping![6]
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References
- ^ South Gloucestershire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Frustrated West Country residents draw penises around potholes (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ South Gloucestershire Council (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Facebook (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Ping! (pingnews.uk)
- ^ TikTok (www.tiktok.com)
- ^ Instagram (www.instagram.com)
- ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Twitter (twitter.com)