County RSS Feed


Major Herefordshire roads are UK's 'least safe' according to Road Safety Foundation

8:00am Monday 8th February 2010


TWO major routes through Herefordshire have been rated among the worst in the country for road safety.

The county’s main road, the A49, and the M50, which runs through the south-east of the county, are among 22 British roads causing concern, according to a study by the Road Safety Foundation.

The roads were rated on how well their design protects users from death or serious injury when a crash occurs.

Factors taken into account are the level of protection cars have if they run off the road, the risk of head-on collisions and safety at junctions.

Dr Joanne Hill, director of the foundation, said single carriageways lack most safety features that would protect road users.

“Head-on collisions are prevented only by road markings,” she said.

“Where road sections have junctions, few layouts rate well.”

The stretches of the A49 between Ross and Hereford and the route from Leominster to Shrewsbury were among those with the lowest safety rating for single carriageways.

The M50 received one of the lowest average ratings for motorways.

Last October the A44 between Leominster and Worcester was rated as the eighth most dangerous road in the world by the Association for Safe International Road Travel.

■ Meanwhile, new signs designed to help drivers pinpoint where they are should they break down are being put up along the M50.

The signs, located 500 metres apart, display a letter telling emergency services which direction they are travelling, and a figure representing how far along the motorway the vehicle is.

It is hoped the emergency services and Highways Agency patrols can reach stranded drivers quicker in an emergency if they give these details.


More County stories

Your Say Your Herefordshire

ABD Herefordshire, Hereford says...
9:10am Mon 8 Feb 10

The problem with the A49 is that it is used as a major north-south route along the England/Wales border. This is an important route that ought to be upgraded to a motorway, or at the very least a graded dual carriageway. Unfortunately decades of under-investment mean we are stuck with an outdated road.
Root causes of head on collisions include lack of overtaking opportunities, the HGV 40 limit, people driving significantly below the speed limit, and people forming processions rather than leaving a gap.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

digitaldave, golden valley says...
11:25am Mon 8 Feb 10

people driving at 30 on the a49 should be banned for their own safety, they just don't realise it but they cause others to take overtaking risks they wouldn't usually have to take.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

TwoWheelsGood, Hereford says...
12:52pm Mon 8 Feb 10

Roads themselves are not dangerous - it’s the way vehicles are driven on them. Leave more time for your journey, leave plenty of space in between you and the vehicle in front and don't risk the lives of others by your selfish actions. I've used the A49 between Ludlow and Hereford for 35 years and never had an accident, but I've seen plenty of really stupid driving.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

digitaldave, golden valley says...
3:00pm Mon 8 Feb 10

if people cant drive confidently at the indicated speed limits they should be banned from driving.

their selfish actions is making others take risks they wouldnt normally have to take.

the least they could do is pull over and let the miles of traffic behind get passed, selfish, no other word for it.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

TwoWheelsGood, Hereford says...
4:05pm Mon 8 Feb 10

Where in the Highway Code does it say you have to drive at the speed limit? One should drive at the speed conditions dictate and that you feel confident (and in control) at. Given that most people drive too fast and too close to the car in front, the 'selfish actions' scenario you describe doesn't happen as often as you make out. Sorry, its you that's being selfish.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

old guy, ledbury says...
6:16pm Mon 8 Feb 10

I use the A49 all the time, it's fine - the problem rests with the impatient drivers! To put a motorway through some of the most lovely countryside this country has to offer would be an absolute crime, and what would it achieve?, may 5 or even 10 minutes off journey time! I'd rather set out 5 minutes earlier!!

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

digitaldave, golden valley says...
8:53pm Mon 8 Feb 10

if you are not confident driving behind the wheel at the stated speed limit you should not have passed your driving test as your actions are dangerous for others.

setting out early is all well and good but not possible for everyone in every situation.

if for whatever reason your confidence has fallen over the years then you should be required to take a retest, the highway code does not automatically change for your own personal reasons.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

dc, Hereford says...
10:55pm Mon 8 Feb 10

Completely unsurprising given the general state of the road and the ignorant drivers who trundle up and down it all day every day. I would imagine that the Leominster bypass has significantly improved driver safety since it opened, as it is generally straight, but the other areas mentioned are simply a death trap. Central government funding is needed to significantly improve the condition of the A49 in the county. As other posters have already said, it is a major route along the border (the Highways Agency also considers it a national Trunk Road). I'm sure the Welsh Assembly could also be persuaded to invest in the road, as a lot of north/south Welsh haulage uses it.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

old guy, ledbury says...
6:48pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Digital-dave - i think it's you that may a confidence check. Are you saying that we should all set out on our journeys and assume we can do 60mph ( or above!) on the A49 for the entire journey, and that if anyone dares slow you below that then you will have to make the time up somewhere else because you are refusing to allow adequate time for your journey. Perhaps it's you that needs to re-read the highway code! C'mon long gone are the days of empty roads during day-time, we all now have to plan accordingly, and set out a few minutes earlier. Unless of course you want to put a motorway through some of the most beautiful countryside known to man with all the problems that would bring. Chill out Dave - put some good music on when you are driving & enjoy driving again instead of gnashing at those LGV's that are limited to 50mph. (and don't even mention horse boxes!!!)
Over & Out!

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Jim Miller, says...
12:02am Wed 10 Feb 10

The A49 clearly needs more "temporary extra lanes" (such as we get up Dinmore Hill) every few miles for pretty much it's whole stretch from Hereford to Shrewsbury, so that folks in a hurry can know there will soon be a place to overtake.
Sadly, that won't happen, due to the economic situation, and so a combination of crazy 20-miles-an-hourers plus Audi-driving-I-wait-
for-no-man-loonies will ensure many more deaths on our main arterial route.
It's depressing. I can't see a solution at the mo.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

digitaldave, golden valley says...
12:02am Wed 10 Feb 10

if the A49 was made into a dual carriageway not only would it be ALOT safer it would also help business and others to build a better herefordshire.

its a no brainer, win win situation.

and yes it will happen just knowing herefordshire it will be about 10 years too late.

as for people who are not confident at driving at the speed limit, we will have to just disagree on that but holding up the traffic and not letting others by is also a offence as it is dangerous anti social and uncalled for, if you are happy with your relaxing music whilst holding up miles of traffic I suggest you move over and let others by ever now and then so they dont take risks they wouldnt usually need to.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Jim Miller, says...
10:07pm Wed 10 Feb 10

There is actually a law governing tractors and heavily laden goods vehicles which perforce move slowly: once they are holding up a significant amount of traffic they must pull over or into a lay-by to let the held-up traffic pass.
This should now be made to apply to people who wish (and it should still be their choice!) to travel on an arterial road at 30mph or less.
We all know accidents are caused equally by the 20 miles an hourers as by the 80 miles an hourers.

Report this post »    Register/Sign In »

Comments are closed on this article.

The A49 at Ashton. One of Herefordshire’s trunk routes, it was rated among the worst in the county for road safety. Buy this photo icon Buy this photo » The A49 at Ashton. One of Herefordshire’s trunk routes, it was rated among the worst in the county for road safety.


LOCAL WEBSITES

Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »