Demands have been made for urgent safety action on a main road linking Preston and Blackburn.
On Monday, a 79-year-old man was killed when his Ford Fiesta collided with a Renault Megan at the junction of the A677 Preston New Road and Further Lane in Mellor.
Samlesbury and Cuerdale Parish Council have long held concerns about motorists using the A677 as a “time trial”, and as a result of their pressure, Lancashire County Council has agreed to undertake a traffic study on the 40 and 50mph route.
Councillor Graham Ashworth, chairman of the Parish Council, said: “There are a lot of drivers who are speeding on the A677.
“Motorists coming from Blackburn are using the road as a time trial.
“There have been a number of accidents on the road in recent years, and this is aggravated by the fact that there are turn-offs for businesses, residential properties and Samlesbury Hall.
“The last time Lancashire County Council and the police carried out a traffic survey, we were not satisfied with the way it was done.
“Officers were placed at the filling station, where motorists naturally slow down.
“As a council, we would like to see a new study completed, and I’m sure there are a number of things that can be done to stop the speeding.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses to Monday’s accident to come forward to help them establish a cause.
The road was closed for around three hours from 4.40pm to allow collision investigators to carry out their work.
The man was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with significant head injuries, where he later died.
The 34 year old female driver of the Megan was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where she was treated for whiplash injuries and shock.
There have been a series of serious accidents on the road in recent years.
In February 2012, the A677 was closed for more than three hours after a VW Golf collided with a lorry at dawn.
In 2002, Shaun Gornall, 18, of Clayton-le-Dale died after an failing to negotiate a left-hand bend in his Renault Clio and colliding head-on with a Citroen Xsara travelling in the opposite direction towards Preston.
His passenger suffered a fractured leg.
In 1994, another man died after his car hit a tree and burst into flames.
A spokesman for the Mezzo Italian restaurant in Preston New Road, said: “People do come passed the restaurant at speed.
“It’s difficult for customers to get in and out of our car park at times because of this, especially as there’s not a set of traffic lights for half a mile.
“Anything that can be done to improve safety, we would welcome.”
Paul Dunne, highways manager for South Ribble, said: “Following concerns raised by the local parish council, we will carry out a further speed investigation to assess the speed of traffic in both directions between the Shell Garage and the Swallow Hotel on the A677.
“Once this additional work has been completed, we’ll be in a better position to look at whether the current speed limit is appropriate, and whether any further measures are needed.”
Comments