North Somerset Council plans to reduce the speed limit by 10mph along five key sections of the A370 in Weston-super-Mare this summer, aiming to tackle one of the area’s most dangerous road stretches. The affected areas include Somerset Avenue, Airport Roundabout, Flowerdown Bridge, Herluin Way, Winterstoke Road, and Marchfields Way.
This initiative covers a 3.8-mile segment between M5 junction 21 and Hildesheim Bridge, a notorious crash hotspot with a troubling safety record. Although this stretch represents only 0.5% of North Somerset’s road network, it has accounted for over 5% of injury-related collisions in the past three decades.
The council reports that drivers are currently more than ten times as likely to be involved in a collision on this road compared to other areas. By lowering the speed limit, they anticipate a 5% reduction in crashes, enhancing overall road safety.
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Councillor Hugh Malyan emphasized the impact of speed on collision rates, stating, “The collision record for this stretch of busy road is ten times higher than it should be, and speed is a key factor in this. By lowering the limit by 10mph we hope to reduce incidents and improve safety with minimal impact on journey times.”
In addition to safety benefits, the reduced speed limit is expected to improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions by 5 to 10%, offering environmental advantages. Despite the change, travel times along this route are projected to increase by less than one minute.
Traffic regulation order (TRO) notices will be published starting Thursday, July 16, with work scheduled to begin at the end of August.