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Just too late
12:17pm Thursday 3rd July 2008
Comments (9)NEW safety measures on the stretch of road where a young horse rider died in a car crash are to be installed later this summer.
The death of Matthew Puckett, 22, of Round Barrow Close, Colerne, has raised more questions over the road safety of the notorious stretch on the A420 between Chippenham and Marshfield.
Less than two weeks before Monday's crash, Hardenhuish sixth former Daniel England died after a bus collided with his car in Marshfield.
Wiltshire County Council are just weeks away from installing flashing crossroad safety signs at the spot where Matthew died.
Castle Combe Parish Council clerk David Ryall is pleased something is being down.
He said: "This is a lethal bit of road and we have campaigned for years to get something done about it.There are quite a few blind bends and drivers fly through them at 70 or 80mph.
"We have all been very concerned about this for such a long time and it is absolutely tragic that this should happen just weeks before something is finally done.
"I would just urge motorists to slow down when driving on the road - many see it as a long, straight stretch they can whizz through, but it is simply too dangerous."
In February Wiltshire coroner David Masters called for a reduction in the 60mph speed limit following the death of Avon and Somerset police officer Andrew Gough last August.
Mr Gough, 41, of Cepen Park, Chippenham, was riding his Aquila motorbike at the Biddestone crossroads when a Vauxhall Corsa pulled out in front of him.
Speaking at the time of Mr Gough's inquest, Mr Masters said: "Three fatalities have occurred at this junction.
"I consider that there should be a review of the safety."
Parish councils have put up £1,000 to cover half the cost of the new road safety signs.
A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said that a vehicle activated crossroads sign was on order and is expected to be installed by the end of the summer.
He said: "We take road safety on all highways in Wiltshire extremely seriously.
"Each year we look at the collision records for all roads in Wiltshire to determine our priorities for safety improvement work. Given that Wiltshire is a predominately rural county, many of these improvements will be on country roads."
Anyone with information on Monday's crash should call police on 0845 4087000.
Your Say YourThe Wiltshire Gazette and Herald
mjhudston, Chippenham, Wiltshire says...
8:28pm Thu 3 Jul 08
I use this route everyday too and from work, and I do speeds varying from 40 to 60 mph, and I still get over taken if im standing still.
Its not until the police start patroling this road more, as well as other calming measures will people start to slow down.
Unfortunately no matter what is tried, I dont doubt that more people will be killed on this road.
chipper, chippenham says...
10:12am Fri 4 Jul 08
"There are quite a few blind bends and drivers fly through them at 70 or 80mph.
..... I would just urge motorists to slow down when driving on the road - many see it as a long, straight stretch they can whizz through, but it is simply too dangerous."
So straight road or bendy road?
Joking aside about time something was done. But if people are allegedly going at 70 - 80 round those bends, what are they driving, never managed more than 40 on the bends between Giddeahall and Ford. I assume these are the ones he means.
tghewett, Chippenham says...
9:26pm Fri 4 Jul 08
This happens to me all the time on this road, including at the Allington crossroads just last Thursday, as well as the Biddestone crossroads and at Marshfield. Drivers just don't look properly and pull out causing full-on emergency stops. Clearly that also happens to many others and some have died. The drivers are the problem, not speed, nor the junction layout (all have excellent visibility), they reach the line of the junction but don't stop. They look right but by this time they are out in the road and committed. By this time the motorcyclist is over their bonnet.
However in the incident being reported here the place of death was actually some distance from the Biddestone crossroads, the flowers are about 1/3 mile from the crossroads. It was a single vehicle collision so the accident couldn't have been caused by the speed of other vehicles, nor by a vehicle pulling out of the Biddestone crossroads, yet the crossroads are blamed and speed is the focus.
I have the greatest of sympathy for everyone who has lost a loved one on this road, but it is very clear that in this case we don't have all the facts. It is not obvious how this single vehicle collision occurred, but it is clear that it was nothing to with other road users nor the lack of safety features around the Biddestone crossroads.
My recommendation? Annual eye and response rate tests for all drivers, and a focus not so much on speed generally, but on slowing down the speed at which decisions are taken at critical points, such as whether it is safe to pull out of a junction. Belt and braces should rule the day. Speed on clear straight sections is just a distraction.
GoodAsGold, Corsham says...
10:02pm Fri 4 Jul 08
GoodAsGold, Corsham says...
10:28pm Fri 4 Jul 08
spooks, calne says...
4:27am Sun 6 Jul 08
www.calnetalk.com
The Maxter, Chippenham says...
9:14am Mon 7 Jul 08
ahudspith, Chippenham says...
6:13pm Thu 10 Jul 08
I regularly obey the speed limit on that road about as frequently as Im not obeying the limit. Its all a question of education. Most drivers have a dismal sense of risk judgement. Iv had idiots on my rear bumper when driving at what I consider sensible speeds on that road. Iv also done speeds on the same stretch of road that would get me into a lot of hot water with the local constabulary.
I understand these risks and the only accident I have had for decades (since being a very young man) was when I was rear-ended by one of the previously mentioned bumper kissers. You need to sort out the drivers no road is dangerous just drivers awful understanding of the risks of driving at certain speeds (and slow is just as dangerous as fast) in the conditions of the time and with visibility being what it is.
TRAGEDY: Promising horse rider Matthew Puckett, who was killed in an accident on the A420 on Monday
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The Maxter, Chippenham says...
3:39pm Thu 3 Jul 08
How can we take county safety policy seriously, when a long straight dual carriageway gets a regular speed camera, but this road doesnt?