Cambridgeshire County Council’s work to improve safety on the A605 has been recognised with a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.
A 13-mile section of the road has been recognised as the most improved section of rural highway in the country.
Safety improvement work carried out by the council included new traffic lights, re-alignment of sections of the road, fixed and mobile speed cameras, new speed and accident blackspot warning signs, work to keep the surface and markings in good condition (particularly at junctions and bends) and removing overgrown trees and bushes.
Between 2005-2010 the number of fatal and serious crashes fell from 34 to nine and the road safety rating improved from medium risk to low risk.
Prior to 2005, crashes at junctions – involving pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles running off the road – each accounted for 30% of all fatal and serious crashes along the route. Between 2006-2010, those proportions fell to 11% for each category.
The council received the award during the launch of the 2012 British European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) at The House of Lords, on 16 October.
Councillor Tony Orgee, cabinet member for community infrastructure, said: “Improving road safety is all about cutting the number of people who are killed and injured on the roads. I’m delighted that our very successful efforts to do just that on the busy A605, which is a major commuter route that is also extensively used by local traffic and commercial vehicles, has been recognised.”
Adrian Walsh director of the Prince Michael Awards scheme, said: “Many of our rural ‘A’ roads remain high risk – here is an outstanding example of a county taking this seriously and making a difference, other authorities should follow and do the same.”
I was once critisised (not on this site may I add) for calling a road ‘dangerous’. I was told in no uncertain terms that there is no such thing as a dangerous road.
I have always maintained that view and this road is some justification.
Obviously the layout of a road presented to a driver encourages the way in which he views the road and the actions that he then subsequently takes upon it.
A bad design can have disastrious results and I am pleased that this authority have looked at this road and apart from the additions of average speed cameras have decided upon a course of action that will eliminate or reduce poor quality judgement of driving and increase their appreciation of this road by its users.
bob craven Lancs
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