Less speed, more signs
Yet another serious accident on the A40 dual carriageway, close to the Wye Bridge traffic lights, brought more traffic chaos to Monmouth last week. The accident brought renewed calls from politicians, business leaders and local residents for a reduction in the speed limit on this stretch of road. Can we immediately say that we support that call: The speed of traffic approaching those lights needs to be slowed, and slowed dramatically. That, surely, is the most simple of all the solutions to this problem, and most certainly the one which is going to cost the least. From our knowledge of that stretch of road, it seems one of the most common causes of accidents is drivers switching lanes as they emerge from the tunnels, heading towards Ross-on-Wye. Could not signs be placed above the carriageway, telling drivers to get into the correct lane: Left hand lane for all traffic going to Ross-on-Wye and the Midlands, right hand lane for traffic heading for the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Once they are in the correct lane, that is where they should stay. To ensure that is the case, double white lines should be put on the whole stretch of road. Traffic cameras might also be a useful aid to ensure drivers do not act illegally in either breaking the speed limit or crossing from one lane to another. What we must all realise, and accept, is that, even if and when measures such as those outlined are put in place, you still cannot legislate for the bad driver. You will still have a driver who speeds, you will still have a driver who decides to switch lane, you will still have a driver who drives much too close to the vehicle in front. But, if everything is done to make the road safe for Mr Average Motorist, then the politicians and highway chiefs will have done everything they can.