Urgent action planed after spate of A361 fatal crashes
Somerset’s roads have become a deadly threat, with yet another fatal collision at the notorious A361/A362 junction sparking urgent calls for action.
On Friday, September 6 MP Anna Sabine brought together members of Avon and Somerset Police and the Somerset County Council in order to discuss the need to address road safety issues on Somerset A roads.
A motorcyclist died in a collision with a lorry on the A361 at around 2.15pm on Friday, August 23.[1] Two women also tragically lost their lives in a crash involving two cars and a lorry on the same road on May 30.
Following the latest tragic fatal collision which occurred on the A361/A362[2] junction in late August marking the latest in a long line of accidents on the road, and the fourth on the junction in 10 months,[3] Anna felt it imperative to bring together a collective force to urgently address the issue.
Both the Avon and Somerset police and Somerset Council have shared in Anna’s concern and have agreed to some immediate measures that can be implemented in lieu of a bigger plan to address the issue. They have "committed" to addressing road safety issues on Somerset A roads, including the Frome accident blackspot.
Among the intentions put forward in the meeting are better signing and road markings and new warning signs to help draw road users’ attention to the potential dangers as well as cutting back extensive vegetation which could be hindering sight lines.
“Road safety is one of my key priorities as an MP and I regularly hear tragic stories from constituents about how it has affected their families.” Anna Sabine MP said following the meeting.
“I am so pleased that Somerset Council has agreed to make some short term improvements at this dangerous junction and I’ll continue to press them for a longer term solution here and at other accident blackspots”
Whilst bigger changes to road layouts are being looked at to help tackle the number of alarming number of fatalities on the roads, it is hoped the new interim measures can help to reduce the risks to road users and increase visibility around the area whilst funding for larger plans is pursued.
The Frome bypass is one of the busiest roads in Somerset[4], carrying traffic from in and around Frome as well as lorries from the numerous quarries to the west and serving as a main link to the neighbouring town of Trowbridge[5]. The road may have to handle additional traffic in the coming years in light of the existing housing growth at the southern edge of Frome and the proposed Selwood Garden Community of an additional 1,700 new homes[6].
A Somerset Council spokesman had previously said: "Following the four tragic incidents which have led to the deaths of five people in road collisions on the Frome bypass since 2019, we have worked with the police to understand the circumstances and what might be done to reduce the likelihood of such events happening again. The detailed assessment of the data highlights that the circumstances of the collisions tend to show that road user behaviour is a key element of why the collisions have been occurring.
"We are aware that investigations are ongoing especially into the most recent collision, and the outcome of these will inform future assessments. At this stage, the evidence we have suggests that road safety engineering is unlikely to be successful in reducing the future chances of further similar collisions happening on the bypass.
"We are, however, analysing the collision data, including that from the latest tragic incident at the A361/A362 junction, to understand why the cluster of collisions here have occurred. This will then allow us to develop plans to improve the junction within a future road safety engineering scheme.
"We are also being supported by the police in carrying out enforcement along the bypass to help change road user behaviours that contribute to collisions happening."
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References
- ^ A motorcyclist died in a collision with a lorry on the A361 at around 2.15pm on Friday, August 23. (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Following the latest tragic fatal collision which occurred on the A361/A362 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ , and the fourth on the junction in 10 months, (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Trowbridge (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ the existing housing growth at the southern edge of Frome and the proposed Selwood Garden Community of an additional 1,700 new homes (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select ‘Join Community’. (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community. (chat.whatsapp.com)