ACTION is being demanded on a notorious stretch of road where drivers have lost control and crashed into the wall of an MP’s country estate.
South Dorset MP Richard Drax has called for safety measures to be put in place after two more drivers went into the wall close to Stag Gate on the A31 yesterday morning.
Both drivers escaped serious injury and Mr Drax believes it is “a miracle” that more people are not badly hurt.
He wants rumble strips and warning signs put in place on a corner outside his Charborough Park Estate.
He said: “We desperately need to have something done on that corner, whether it be rumble strips or a flashing warning sign.
“We’ve also offered a bit of land to flatten the corner opposite the wall.”
Mr Drax said drivers going towards Wimborne on the A31 can lose grip on the bend close to Stag Gate and when the back of the car slides away they try to straighten up but oversteer and cross the road before hitting the wall.
He said 10-15 cars go into the wall each year.
Mr Drax added: “We’ve asked to reduce the speed limit to 50mph but been told by the Highways Agency that’s not going to happen.
“So we would urge rumble strips and a flashing sign saying ‘dangerous corner’ and ‘slow down’.
“You’re always going to have people who drive beyond the speed limit.
“But I would urge them to stay under 60mph on the A31.
“I’m delighted and relieved no one’s been hurt in the latest spate.”
The wall has been hit in two separate crashes this month.
The two drivers involved in yesterday’s collision escaped serious injury.
Police said a silver Mazda Capella and a white Vauxhall Combo van were in collision with each other and the wall at 6.41am.
Commuters were held up until 8.30am as the westbound lane was covered in fuel and was also being used by recovery vehicles and an ambulance.
A Highways Agency spokesperson said the agency was hoping to add a sign and renew the anti-skid surface on the bend if it could get the funding.
Rumble strips are not being considered as they are believed to be more suitable for slower stretches of road.
The spokesman said: “In February this year we renewed road markings near Lion Lodge and installed new illuminated road studs at Stag Gate.
“We also carried out some drainage work and cut back some vegetation to improve visibility for drivers.
“We have further work planned, including a renewal of anti-skid road surfacing and a vehicle activated warning sign, and will complete this as soon as we can when funding is available.”
Factfile
The A31 between Bere Regis and Wimborne is a notorious stretch of road for serious crashes.
In April this year Poole motorcyclist Warren Jackson, 43, died in a crash with a BMW car between Stag Gate and Bere Regis.
On June 10, 2009, two drivers died in a head-on crash involving a Toyota MR2 and a Ford Mondeo.
The Ford driver Donald Williams, a 72-year old grandfather from Bournemouth, and Toyota driver19-year-old Will Johnston, from Bloxworth, died during the collision.
Mr Johnstone’s sister Stephanie, a passenger in his car, had to take a year off university to recover from her injuries and Mr Williams’ widow Janet faces life in a wheelchair with arthritis after suffering multiple leg and foot fractures in the crash.
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