Cut limit on 'death trap'
LOWER speed limits and better signs could stop meaningless deaths on a notorious rural road, an inquest heard.
Motorcyclist Kevin John Davies, 21, died in April after he crashed into a tractor on Chevet Lane in Sandal.
At an inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s on Tuesday, police collision investigator PC Phillip Jackson said that the only way to prevent another death on the road was to lower the speed limit.
The speed limit on the road currently ranges from 20mph to 60mph.
Although it had been impossible to determine his exact speed, police tests showed that if Mr Davies been travelling at 60mph he could have stopped 36 metres before the point of impact.
PC Jackson said that had warning signs and a lower speed limit been in place, it may have had an effect on Mr Davies’ speed.
Mr Davies, of St Helens, had been travelling to visit a friend in Crigglestone when the crash happened on April 18.
Tractor driver Jonathan Atkinson was leaving a concealed entrance to Chevet Grange Farm when the accident happened.
Mr Davies suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at Pinderfields Hospital.
Police have exonerated Mr Atkinson from blame and believe he was making a safe manoeuvre, using a mirror on the other side of the road to see round the corner.
Mr Atkinson said: “I was turning out and saw this black blur come from around the corner and it hit the back of my tractor, spinning it round. I didn’t know what to do.”
Mr Davies’ mother, Lynne McKellar, said that he had only recently passed his motorbike test after two months of lessons.
Questioning Mr Atkinson, she said: “I’m not here to say ‘you killed my son’ because it’s not about that.
“There was a bunch of flowers (laid at the site), which said ‘another needless death on this road, a concerned neighbour.’
“You deem it safe but I still think there is a break in concentration.”
Assistant coroner Melanie Williamson called Chevet Lane “an accident blackspot”. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Chevet Lane residents launched a campaign for lower speed limits following Mr Davies’ death.
People living on and near to road branded it a “death trap” saying not a week went by without accidents.
Ian Wiper, service director for highways and transportation, said: “Our thoughts are of course with the family at this difficult time and we would like to reassure people that making our highways as safe as possible is always a priority for the council.
“While the investigations are not yet complete, Chevet Lane is included in the review and we hope to seek a reduction in the speed limit upon that length of road to 50mph, which would be enforced by the police.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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