Campaigners have praised National Highways for reducing the speed limit on a section of the A46 in Worcestershire in response to concerns raised by the local community.
The government-owned company said it had temporarily reduced the limit from 60mph to 40mph over a 1.5km stretch of road at Hinton Cross after considering the views of the local community.
It said the move followed a number of collisions and was made with a view to making the lower speed limit permanent.
New signs and road markings have been installed from just north of Hinton Cross to just south of the B4078 at Sedgeberrow.
Last week, local MP Harriett Baldwin and fellow Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston, who is not the local MP but is a government minister, joined representatives from Ashton under Hill Parish Council and Sedgeberrow Parish Council and local resident Lucy Fletcher for a photo-shoot organised by National Highways.
Ms Fletcher started a petition which collected more than 6,000 signatures calling for a speed reduction after being involved in a collision herself.
Last year West Worcestershire MP Ms Baldwin accused National Highways of risking lives by delaying safety improvements.
She also met the Office for Road and Rail ‘and she was advised her to share her concerns with [watchdog] Transport Focus’.
Ms Fletcher, Ms Baldwin, Mr Huddleston, Ashton under Hill parish councillor Karen Rowley, Sedgeberrow parish councillor Sue Morris, and Ms Lazenby
National Highways head of planning and Development Victoria Lazenby said: ‘Since the measures were completed in May, we’ve seen a big change in driver behaviour.
'Slowing the traffic on the main A46 now gives vehicles wanting to join from the local side roads extra time to complete their manoeuvres safely. It’s definitely had a positive effect on the local community.'
Ms Baldwin said: ‘I am pleased that the 40 miles per hour limit is now active and I feel it is key that the local police step up their efforts to enforce the new limit.
‘This change was brought about after local people complained about speeding motorists and the difficult challenges they have crossing the busy road at Hinton on the Green.
‘We all hope that this will bring about better driver behaviour and a reduction in the number of accidents along this road. I understand that a speed activated warning sign may also be on the way, which is further good news for road safety along the A46. This I am sure will reduce collisions and make this major road far safer for all who travel on it.’
National Highways said that during the five-year period between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021 there were 14 personal injury collisions within the speed limit reduction area, resulting in 22 casualties.
Since the speed limit was reduced there has been one collision resulting in an injury, the severity of which was lower than it may have been had the vehicles involved been travelling at the former speed limit, National Highways said.
It added that it will continue to monitor the impacts of this temporary speed limit reduction for up to 18 months, which will inform the decision on whether to implement the reduction permanently.
