National speed limit to be slashed to 50mph at dangerous hotspot on major road under new proposals

The council has been forced to act at known danger spots where drivers have been killed or badly injured, even when earlier safety measures have failed.

One of the latest changes has been backed in Lincolnshire, where councillors have agreed to cut the speed limit at a rural crossroads with a long history of accidents.

The junction of Fulney Drove and Mill Drove North, near Spalding, has seen 11 crashes in the past five years, according to the council.

Under the plans, the council revealed the speed limit will be reduced from 60mph to 50mph on all roads leading to the junction.

Council figures showed the problem goes beyond the crossroads itself.

In the same period, there were five injury crashes to the north of the junction and four to the south.

Another accident was reported just hours before councillors met to discuss the issue.

A council report said the junction is officially classed as an "accident cluster site". It admitted that previous safety work has not worked.

The report said: "It is proposed that the statutory process for the introduction of a Speed Limit Order be commenced to introduce a 50mph speed limit for the sections of road.

"The committee is invited to consider this proposal and to make a recommendation to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport as to whether such proposal should be approved, modified or not be progressed."

Councillor Charlotte Vernon said the figures were worrying, describing them as a "huge number" of crashes and said the council "should do anything we can to reduce them."

The proposal to lower the speed limit was approved at a council meeting this week and will now go to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport for final approval.

But some councillors said the changes do not go far enough. Councillor Tom Sneath said the junction is dangerous because drivers cannot see clearly, and traffic often moves too fast.

He said: "The road is exceedingly narrow – it's just about passable by two lorries if they're going very slow. It's a blind corner, so you can't really see.

"You can end up with cars barrel-rolling down the road because they're going 60mph."

Councillor Sneath said he would like to see stop signs added at the crossroads to force drivers to slow down before pulling out.

The council admitted to knowing there was a growing problem with vehicles overshooting the junction when joining from side roads.

Under normal rules, the road would not usually qualify for a lower speed limit. However, the council's policy allows exceptions where safety partners believe lives could be saved.

The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership asked for the speed limit to be reduced as part of an accident reduction plan.

A council report detailed how councillors are allowed to approve changes even if strict targets are not met, as long as there is a strong safety reason.

If the plan is signed off, the new 50mph limit will cover a longer stretch of road, running north to Weston Hills Road and south to the A16.

No public consultation has yet taken place, but local councillors have already backed moving ahead with the legal process.