New A4 road safety measures approved by councillors

Slough Borough Council's cabinet green-lit the measures as part of the A4 Safer Roads scheme to boost safety on the town's key transport artery. It comes as data shows there were four fatal and 42 serious collisions on the road between 2016 and 2022. Slough Borough Council transport lead Puja Bedi said: "The A4 is our main route through the town, and it is used by thousands of drivers every day.

"We are committed to making the route as safe as possible for everyone, as one death is one too many. If we implement the suggested measures, I believe this will make a difference." The road safety measures include average speed check cameras and red-light camera systems - which can detect speed, light and pedestrian crossing violations and illegal turns.

The red-light cameras will be implemented jointly with Thames Valley Police. Road surface treatments, traffic signal improvements, and work on pedestrian and cycle crossing are also among the planned measures. Speed limits of 30mph are also set to be introduced in sections of the A4 - a measure which was approved by cabinet in December 2022.

The works are to be entirely funded by GBP1.7m from the Department for Transport's (DfT) Safer Roads Fund. Councillor Bedi added: "Providing a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists will increase confidence in our residents and commuters to use more sustainable modes of transport, especially for shorter journeys. "A scheme such as this will live out our value of a town where residents live healthier, safer and more independent lives."

Analysis from the DfT further revealed that there were three fatal and 44 serious collisions on the A4 route between 2011 and 2015. A council officers' report reads: "In 2016, the Government established a Road Safety Fund as part of its ongoing investment in the national transport infrastructure. "The aim of the funding was set out to provide financial resources to local authorities whose road network had the highest recorded risk of fatal and serious collisions.

"The A4 in Slough was identified with having a disproportionate number of casualties based on the criteria set by the DfT."