Road safety improvements mean black spot no longer dangerous

Date: 31/8/2012

A notorious accident black spot is to no longer be part of the local authority’s speed management strategy as its safety record has improved considerably.

Catchwater Crossroads, on the outskirts of Messingham has been a dangerous piece of road for years with drivers failing to slow down when approaching the junction.

Since 1997 there have been 30 serious accidents at the location, leading to extensive injuries and deaths in some cases.

One incident in 2006 led to a pedestrian being killed as a result of dangerous driving and it was decided that something needed to be done.

North Lincolnshire Council installed traffic lights at Catchwater Crossroads in February as part of a £90,000 road safety initiative.

Now the area is much safer and is no longer considered to need special attention under the speed management strategy.

Trevor Foster, North Lincolnshire Ward Councillor for the Ridge area, said: "The traffic lights have totally transformed the situation at Catchwater Crossroads. We have taken all of the hazard out of the situation and made it a very safe environment."

A local of the area, Wilf Wilson, said that he had noticed a 100 per cent improvement in the area since the traffic lights had been put in place.

The majority of vehicles are now travelling through Catchwater Crossroads at 35 to 40 miles per hour, according to a spokesman for the Council.

A few are travelling between 30 and 35 miles per hour and an even smaller number are going at speeds of 40 to 45 miles per hour.

The spokesman said: "These are very good results and I would expect Catchwater Crossroads to drop out of the 2013-14 speed management strategy if these results keep up."

This is in stark comparison to 2008-09 when the junction was named as the number one priority for the speed management strategy.

Officials figures suggest that 1,889 vehicles approach the crossroads from the Scotter direction each day, travelling at an average speed of 35 miles per hour.

2,518 cars come from the direction of Scunthorpe on a daily basis, travelling at 36 miles per hour on average.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

Transport Research News and Vehicle Safety News