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Leeds death crash warning if limit stays 60mph
Councillor Chris Townsley has campaigned for years for changes to be made to the notorious Bayton Lane in Horsforth.
Campaigners have warned that someone could be killed at a notorious accident blackspot if the 60mph speed limit remains unchanged.
Leeds City Council has produced a plan to earmark speed reduction changes to dozens of roads across the city.
But councillors in Horsforth have hit out at the decision not to include Bayton Lane on the list of proposed changes.
They have spent the last two decades campaigning for changes to the declassified road that has a current speed limit of 60mph.
There have already been a string of accidents along Bayton Lane despite work to improve safety at the junction with Brownberrie Lane two years ago.
Coun Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said: “When the list was announced we looked frantically for Horsforth but we couldn’t find anything.
“Last year a bus went into a car and I just don’t know how much more serious these accidents have to get.
“Everyone can see that this is an accident waiting to happen.
“This has been rattling on for about 20 years and still nothing has been done.
“One of these days it will be loss of life and that is something we don’t want.”
PC Conal Hills was killed on Bayton Lane when he was hurled from his car during a high-speed chase in 2006.
The officer, who was not wearing a seatbelt, lost control and the car spun, hit a wall and rolled over.
He suffered severe injuries including brain damage and died 24 hours later.
The councillors have also called for speed restrictions around schools in Horsforth and Rawdon to protect pupils.
Coun Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) added: “It is just crazy that nothing has been done.
“If we are going to have more houses crammed into Horsforth and more traffic on the roads then we need more protection for residents.”
Around 45 routes have been reviewed by the council’s safety officers.
And 24 of them have been given recommended changes including the A660 Otley Road through Adel.
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Antz
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 05:37 PM'Notorious Accident Blackspot' ? I think it is 3 fatalities in 13 years on a stretch of road which is less than a mile long I think that would count as a accident blackspot. The trouble with Bayton Lane it is to narrow to go 60 MPH on. Also the camber of the road where the crossing is at the golf Club is wrong because if you travel more than 30 MPH round the bends the road throws you to the wrong side going up to Yeadon and coming down throws you into the hedge row next to the crossing from the 17th green to the 18th. What should be taken into account by Leeds City Council is that young Children and elderly golfers cross at this dangerous point in the road.
blythel01
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 08:15 PMI regularly use this road on my way to my place of work on Moorside Indutrial estate. I have found it to be quite safe, (on some stretches), to do the national speed limit. I have had advanced training though. In my experience though most people that use the road think it's 40 anyway, with one or two that think it's 30. I am trying to point out that the road itself isn't dangerous, although a mini-roundabout at the Brownberrie Road crossroads might improve it
Bramley Boy
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 05:57 PMAprroxmaitely 10 weeks ago Bayton Lane was subject to road works comprising of a power cable being laid almost the full lenght of Bayton Lane I have to agree the speed limit of 60mph is a joke as this road has many twists and turns I came across an accident where a Leeds City Council grass cutter was hit by a man whom in my opinion was driving too fast the not so funny story is he had a child in the back of the car. Now are they going to put lights up on this stretch of road as in the hours of darkness with only side of the road cats eyes I have to agree it is a further fatal waiting to happen. Does it have to be a member of the powers that be killed before anything is done
Bramley Boy
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 05:55 PMAprroxmaitely 10 weeks ago Bayton Lane was subject to road works comprising of a power cable being laid almost the full lenght of Bayton Lane I have to agree the speed limit of 60mph is a joke as this road has many twists and turns I came across an accident where a Leeds City Council grass cutter was hit by a man whom in my opinion was driving too fast the not so funny story is he had a child in the back of the car. Now are they going to put lights up on this stretch of road as in the hours of darkness with only side of the road cats eyes I have to agree it is a further fatal waiting to happen. Does it have to be a member of the powers that be killed before anything is done
whirlygig
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 04:45 PM'Notorious Accident Blackspot' ? Lets look at some facts. Using online systems I can find there have been three fatalities in 13 years. "There have already been a string of accidents along Bayton Lane" Since 2007 just one serious and 4 slight injuries. Neither of these stats point to a "notorious accident blackspot" The report mentions one death which was as a result of a car chase. Would a lower limit have stopped a high speed chase?
Looney
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 04:38 PMI don't think more police on the roads would be a better effect - not only are the police already overstretched and understaffed with work - putting them on the roads to slow people down would not help. Something does need to be done on this road, its a very dangerous road, even to those who know the road. Innocent people are killed on that road - idiots driving at speed caused the police to follow them and it was the police car that ended up in collision yet the idiots walked free! A family lost a son, a partner, a daddy because of that road. Something needs to be done before more lives are lost.
stevem28
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 12:27 PMIt is not speed that causes most accidents but careles drivers who dont know how to drive on roads.If the sped was at 40 they would still do 60 or 70.Accidents happen due to careless and stupid drivers who think they are sterling moss on a speed track. It is so easy to blame the everyday driver for the few stupid ones and just like the speed bumps you see everyhere they will never slow the idiot drivers who dont care what damage they do to there car.But speed bumps in most places cause anoyance to the residents of the streets they are placed on.More police on the roads would be a better effect then lowering speeds on roads.
hoaglund
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 11:57 AMThis is a copy of an email I sent to the then MP regarding this road sent: 17 July 2007 17:58: To: TRUSWELL, Paul Subject: Accident Blackspot Bayton Lane, Yeadon I am very familiar with the above stretch of road. The only suprise to me when I have continually been mobilised to this stretch of road over the years is that the West Yorkshire casualty reduction partnership continue to fail the victims and families it's supposed to protect. I feel the mobile speed cameras it deploys on West Yorkshire's roads are purposely placed on ambiguous stretches of roads where unsuspecting drivers are deliberately caught out. If these favourite mobile speed traps are so dangerous why don't they adequately warn unfamiliar driver's with adequate signs and fixed speed camera's. I can only assume that this has more to do with revenue than public safety! Lets only hope they put this revenue to good cause and urgently address this deadly stretch of road.
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