Rugby MP's column: 'I fear action on A426 speeding will only be taken when it is too late'
Rugby's MP John Slinger writes a regular column for The Rugby Advertiser. This week he discusses road safety.
What is a life worth?
When it comes to speeding, people are too often injured or killed in collisions for the sake of saving only a few minutes. I fear that could happen on the A426 leading into Rugby, and that action will only be taken when it is too late.
Warwickshire County Council has told me there is no justification for reducing the speed limit on this stretch of road. However, I have heard a very different story from local residents.
I am campaigning for the speed limit to be reduced on the section of the A426 between M6 Junction 1 and the Kipling/Boughton Road roundabout. The council's position appears to be that changes will only be considered after a fatality. By that point, it would be too late.
I care deeply about road safety, and I know many local people do too. I have spoken to residents who live alongside the A426, and many have raised concerns about speeding, dangerous driving and near misses. One resident emailed me to say they hear screeching brakes on the road regularly.
That is why I am petitioning Warwickshire County Council to lower the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph between M6 Junction 1 and the Kipling/Boughton Road roundabout, so that everyone who lives beside this road, walks along it, or crosses it can do so more safely.
Anyone who has tried to leave the Eden Park roundabout, whether from the housing estate or the hotel, knows how difficult it can be when traffic is travelling up and down the hill at 60mph or more. It makes little sense for a roundabout serving homes, businesses and visitors to connect directly to a high-speed dual carriageway.
The evidence also supports local concerns. In this area the junctions and roundabout approaches are common locations for collisions, often because drivers are travelling too fast as they approach them.
Importantly, calculations carried out by my office show that reducing the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph would add an average of just 38 seconds to a journey along this stretch of road. The average human life lasts 2.3 to 2.6 billion seconds, a motorist saving 38 seconds is not worth risking a single life.
This campaign is not about my views alone. I want to hear directly from local people.
That is why I am hosting a public meeting to discuss road safety on the A426 and the case for reducing the speed limit. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] and my office will send you the details.
To achieve this, we need to show strong public support. Please add your name to the petition below here: Petition: lower the A426 speed limit to 40mph | John Slinger MP
If you have seen a crash or had a near miss on this road, you can log it on this page too, every report strengthens the case I can take to the council.
Save 38 seconds or save a life or limb. I'm confident that the public support me in choosing the latter.