The stretch of road in question, "Barton Flats" used to be de-restricted with a suicide lane down the middle. The accident rate was very very low, Around the bend at the south end of Barton Flats around Barton Hall there have been many accidents, a TVR once tried to fly the ravine. However no matter how bad the accident the road safety boffins would not put double white lines around this bend to stop the head on accidents and sadly deaths.Barton Flats had no accidents. However thanks to a large grant from the EU, LCC put pseudo cycle lanes along the stretch and reduced the speed limit to 40mph (allowing planning permission to be more easily attained) they have succesfully managed to create a road that overtaking is nigh on impossible. But they have made a straight bit of road that had a zero accident rate, to one that now has a comparitvely high rate of accidents.The accident that is mentioned above is a tragedy and probably a 50-50 blame should have be aportioned. The taxi driver should not have pulled out, he probably thought the car that hit him was only doing 40 mph so he thought he had time to pull out. Had the speed limit still been 60mph the accident may not have happened as the Taxi driver would have been more careful. I campaigned against the reduction in speed limit on the stretch of road in question, I was a lone voice at council meetings alas I have been proved right that the accident rate would increase.
I think it is called progress, or Health and safety!
I think it is called progress, or Health and safety!
