Somerset Council faces renewed pressure to improve safety following another serious collision at a notorious accident hotspot on the A361 junction outside Frome.
Anna Sabine, the Liberal Democrat MP for Frome and East Somerset, has called on the council to act swiftly after a multi-vehicle crash occurred on Wednesday, April 15. This junction has a grim record, with six fatalities in the last five years and numerous other serious incidents.
In a letter addressed to Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport, Richard Wilkins, and road safety officer Nick Cowling, Ms. Sabine highlighted the urgent need for enhanced safety measures at this dangerous intersection. She emphasized, “The frequency and severity of collisions here are deeply concerning. Despite previous safety steps, it’s clear more robust action is urgently required to safeguard drivers and other road users.”
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Ms Sabine urged the council to consider additional interventions, such as installing traffic lights, to better manage the hazardous traffic flow. Other proposals include lowering the speed limit along the route from 60mph to 50mph, a measure already supported by the council. Notably, Avon and Somerset Police implemented AI-powered cameras last year to monitor speeding and mobile phone use, but this has not yet stemmed the incidents.
Councillor Richard Wilkins acknowledged community concerns and outlined ongoing efforts to enhance safety. Planned improvements involve resurfacing the road, reducing traffic speeds through a new speed limit, adding central hatching to narrow the carriageway where possible, and conducting significant vegetation cutbacks to improve visibility. Enhanced road markings will provide clearer guidance and auditory warnings to drivers.
Wilkins urged responsible driving, stating, “Driver behavior contributes to around 90 percent of serious collisions. We urge all drivers to exercise caution and responsibility on our roads.”
Ms Sabine has requested a meeting with council representatives to discuss further measures, including the potential for traffic light installation, underscoring the urgent need for decisive action to prevent future tragedies at this perilous junction.