We need cameras at crash hotspot
CAMERAS should be installed on traffic lights at a notoriously dangerous Ormskirk junction, Our West Lancashire has warned.
Lancashire County Council is consulting on proposals to reduce the limit to 30mph on the A59 County Road, but campaigners say more must be done to improve safety.
The political group has launched a petition urging the council to fit cameras to the traffic lights at the Fiveways junction and the Green Lane and Hayfield Road junctions.
Such devices, known as red light cameras, work by monitoring any vehicle which goes through the junction when the traffic lights are on red, with the offender then potentially facing a £100 fine and three points on their driving licence.
The petition, started by OWL, has been signed more than 100 times and states: “Currently, the county council are consulting on reducing the speed limit on High Lane and County Road to 30mph. We welcome this measure, but without proper enforcement it will have little effect.
“Research on red light enforcement cameras in 2017 showed a 20% decrease in total injury crashes at traffic lights.
“Such cameras at Fiveways junction and the Green Lane/Hayfield road junction would reduce serious injuries and fatalities.
“As the county council is looking at this issue currently, now is a crucial time to raise this matter.”
OWL’s Scott ward spokesperson, Jane Thompson, said: “I welcome the proposed speed reduction, but without proper enforcement it will have little effect.
“The minority of drivers who cause the collisions won’t be deterred by a change of signs.
“That’s why cameras at the junctions which will identify those who are jumping red lights are needed.”
Lancashire County Council introduced the consultation in response to numerous casualties on the road in recent years, including a motorcyclist who died in a collision on County Road in April. In December last year, 69year-old John Roberts died after his car collided with a lorry on the same stretch of road.
The consultation began on August 15 and, just one day later, a three-car crash occurred at the Fiveways junction.
It remains open until September 12.
Announcing the consultation, a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “We met with the police in January following an incident in December to consider all the available evidence about safety on County Road, including investigations of previous incidents, our own recent monitoring.
“In consideration of this, we now feel it is appropriate to consider reducing the speed limit to 30mph on sections of County Road/High Lane (A59) and Southport Road (A570) north of the Five Ways junction.”
Any representations or objections relating to the proposal must be made in writing and should be sent to the Director of Corporate Services, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8XJ or by email to tro-consultation@lancashire.gov.uk, quoting ref:LSG4\ 894.8326\ML2.
The petition is available online at gopetition.com/ petitions/make-countyroad-junctions-saferintroduce-red-lightenforcement-cameras. html