North Somerset Council is set to reduce the speed limit by 10mph on several sections of the A370 in Weston-super-Mare, targeting a notorious crash hotspot along the busy route. The changes will affect five key locations: Somerset Avenue, Airport Roundabout, Flowerdown Bridge, Herluin Way, Winterstoke Road, and Marchfields Way.
This initiative will cover a 3.8-mile stretch between M5 junction 21 and Hildesheim Bridge, an area long recognized for its high accident rate. Although this stretch accounts for just 0.5% of the North Somerset road network, it has been responsible for over 5% of collision-related injuries in the past 30 years.
The council estimates that reducing the speed limit will result in a 5% decrease in crashes. Currently, drivers on this stretch are reportedly over ten times more likely to be involved in a collision than on other roads. Councillor Hugh Malyan emphasized the link between speed and safety, saying, “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.”
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He added, “By lowering the limit by 10mph, we aim to reduce incidents and improve safety while minimizing any impact on journey times." Additionally, the speed reduction is expected to boost fuel efficiency and cut emissions, benefiting both drivers' wallets and the environment.
The council highlights that slowing traffic by 10mph can reduce emissions by 5 to 10%, with travel time delays estimated to be under one minute. Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) notices will be published starting Thursday, July 16, and construction work is scheduled to commence by the end of August.