Acle Straight crash figures reveal number of casualties

Police data show there have been 33 serious or fatal crashes on the notorious stretch of the A47 between Acle and Great Yarmouth since 2016 - with 2020 standing out as its darkest year. In that single year four people were killed and nine suffered serious injuries in collisions on the seven-mile road. Among them were two women in their 70s [1] who died in a crash in March and two people killed in a December collision [2] which also left another victim badly hurt.

The aftermath of a fatal crash on the Acle Straight in March 2020. (Image: Archant) The toll has continued to climb in recent years. In August 2024, two men died [3] when their stolen motorcycle collided head-on with an Audi TT on the road near Halvergate.

And in July last year, an 82-year-old man died from chest injuries [4] after his car crashed with a lorry near the former Stracy Arms junction, also close to the Halvergate turning. The figures, obtained from Norfolk Constabulary under the Freedom of Information Act, cover people classed as "killed or seriously injured" on the Acle Straight. They land as average-speed cameras [5] and a permanent 50mph limit are finally in place along the road after a ?2m safety upgrade under taken last year by National Highways.

A car submerged in a ditch after it veered off the Acle Straight on Tuesday, February 10. (Image: Submitted) Despite those steps, campaigners and politicians have continued to call for the Acle Straight to be dualled, arguing that only a dual carriageway will tackle the long-standing safety issues on the route. In October, a woman in her 40s was left with serious injuries after her car collided with a lorry.

And on Tuesday, February 10, the road was back in the headlines yet again when a car careered into a water-filled ditch and ended up submerged.

References

^ two women in their 70s (www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk)
^ a December collision (www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk)
^ two men died (www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk)
^ an 82-year-old man died from chest injuries (www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk)
^ average-speed cameras (www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk)