“Route Aware” Campaign – A417 London Road

Villagers cannot have failed to notice the mass of warning signs along the London Road that appeared on November 5th.  This heralds a campaign involving all your local councils, road safety campaigners, the police and, of course, yourselves.

Very sadly, three local people were killed during an 8 week period last summer within the boundaries of our Ampney parishes.  The figure for the Cotswolds for this year is even more horrific – 14 people have died – that’s double last year’s number.

We have double white lines, an excess of signs, a 50mph limit, yet every day a few people race into the Ampney bends at 60mph plus.  What really saddens me is that these are local people – I recognise many of the drivers and know them to be good honest and industrious folk whom none of us would want to lose. They nearly all have families who would be devastated if they died in such a pointless way.  How can we get the message across ?

The police have pointed out that it is not the road that is dangerous, but the way in which people use it.  If you have any thoughts on this subject, please put them to Garry Handley, our contact for the Cotswold Road Safety Liaison Group at Shire Hall, Gloucester (telephone: 01 452-425 000), who are spearheading this campaign.

 

12th November 2007