Councillors in Narborough, Walsoken, Downham Market and North Runcton react to three fatal crashes
Councillors have put a sombre few weeks which resulted in several deaths on our roads down to the "crazy" standard of driving. Many have witnessed impatient drivers, a lack of concentration, and speeding across key routes on the A47 and A10. Three people died in two weeks as a result of crashes in West Norfolk, while others have sustained serious injuries.
Popular rugby player Will Allen passed away following a collision with a tractor on the A47 Constitution Hill at North Runcton on Friday, February 27.
A man in his 70s died at the scene of a crash on the A10 in Downham after a car collided with an HGV on March 2.
Picture: Google Maps
And last Thursday, a woman in her 80s who was involved in a single-vehicle collision in Walsoken on February 23 died from her injuries. The latter incident hit close to home for borough councillor Julian Kirk, who represents Walsoken, as she was a close friend to him. "The lady who died was a long-term personal friend.
As far as I know, at this stage it was a medical event," he told the Lynn News. However, Cllr Kirk has slammed the manner of driving around the area.
"I believe the standard of driving locally isn't that great. When my business colleagues come into the area, in cars or trucks, they nearly always comment on the poor driving in the area," he said.
"The major issue around Walsoken is the A47 Broadend Road junction - National Highways controls this.
"Others and I have been requesting a roundabout there for many years. It's an awful junction to cross.
"There is a major housing development planned close to that junction. It will be a bottleneck, and even more accidents will happen.
"In other parts of my division, the A17 in Terrington St Clement has its problems. "I believe a speed reduction on the A17 around that junction may help, but again those crossing the junction do crowd the centre of the road, again causing the accidents.
"Perhaps more respect for other road users would help." The poor manner of driving around West Norfolk has been cited by others.
Rick Morrish, who is deputy chair of North Runcton Parish Council but spoke in a personal capacity as a resident, does not believe imposing further restrictions at the A47 near the Constitution Hill roundabout would have any meaningful impact. "My main concern is how crazy a lot of people drive," he said.
"I do not know the circumstances of the most recent accident, but previous ones that have taken place there were as a result of dangerous driving. "Whatever restrictions you put in place, people will be driving crazy.
I do not know what you can do about it." Mr Morrish believes numerous speed limit changes along this route can confuse some drivers. On the short stretch from the Hardwick roundabout to Middleton, the limit alternates between 60mph, 50mph, 40mph and 30mph.
"Every time you go around it, you see people swapping lanes," he said on the Constitution Hill roundabout.
"When you look at the scene of a crash, you cannot imagine how they manage to do it." Cllr Peter Wilkinson, who represents Narborough on Breckland District Council, says he believes crashes are caused by "impatient drivers". "I drive the A47 Narborough to Lynn and Norwich on a regular basis," he said.
"I have not seen any areas that can be altered to prevent accidents, other than keeping up with road surface maintenance.
"In my experience, a crash is caused by inattentive drivers, lack of concentration and speeding. "Only last month, two vehicles overtook me driving from the Lynn direction when I was approaching the Carpenters Arms pub in the 40mph zone in East Winch." Borough councillors in Downham have expressed sadness over the death of the man on the A10.
Cllr Joshua Osbourne, who said he is not familiar with the stretch of road, said: "It was very sad to hear about the accident.
I am sure National Highways will be looking into it, as certainly they should." A spokesperson for National Highways told the Lynn News that the authority is "always exploring" ways to improve its roads. "Safety is and will always be our number one priority, and we are always exploring ways to make our roads safer," they said.
"We prioritise improvements using the latest collision data, combined with risk assessments, which in turn helps inform our decisions at a local level.
"Our ambition remains that no one should be harmed while travelling or working on the network, and we continue to invest in safety improvements across the region. "Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we continue to work with partners, organisations and road users to help us collectively achieve this ambition." Cllr Andy Bullen, West Norfolk's mayor, added: "What a tragedy this is for the people involved - not just the casualties, but their families.
"I credit the emergency services. They never know what they are going to contend with."
Norfolk County Council's highways department was approached for comment. Last week, the police said that while investigations continue, no immediate links have been identified between the crashes.
Officers urged people to avoid the fatal four behaviours - speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.