09 Mar 2023
One of the most notorious – and dangerous – stretches of road in the district will see long overdue safety improvements trialled later this summer.
A three-mile section of the A5183 Redbourn Road between Batchwood Drive in St Albans and Redbourn High Street Roundabout has witnessed five fatalities and six serious accidents in the past six years, and 18 deaths in total since 1980.
Now, following a petition of more than 6,000 names and a year-long feasibility study, the county council has finally recognised the need for action to improve road safety.
This will include changing the various speed limits to a uniform 50mph, with a view to installing speed cameras should this not prove successful on its own, and a road safety and speed awareness campaign which will highlight the number of collisions in the past few years.
Redbourn’s county councillor, Cllr Annie Brewster, has been actively fighting for improvements to the road for years: “At last there is a way forward. I cannot thank all the residents, local councillors and Highways Officers enough for their determination to make this road safer. Thank you too to Bim Afolami MP and his team and to David Lloyd, Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, who have championed with us for greater safety.”
Redbourn Parish Council chairman Cllr David Mitchell, welcomed the measures: “This is tremendous news for our residents who have had ongoing concerns regarding the safety levels of the Redbourn Road. The consequences of speeding and dangerous overtaking by reckless drivers cannot be underestimated, and we support any measures undertaken to make the roads in our locality as safe as they can possibly be.”
Back in December 2020, Viktoria Nurse was driving back home from nursery with her two-year-old daughter and six-month-old son when they were hit head on by another vehicle. The vehicle was travelling in excess of 70mph and due to the speed was on the wrong side of the carriageway exiting the bends near the Prae Wood Arms.
The driver of the other car died at the scene following the collision and Viki was left with life-changing injuries.
Viki welcomed the decision to approve safety measures on the road: “Sadly too many drivers day or night take risks with their speeds while driving along the Redbourn Road. For me this had significant consequences resulting in life changing injuries such as leaving me partially sighted unable to ever drive again.
“Something needs to be done to minimise the chances of another family suffering as we have. If these measures help towards that then clearly we welcome them.
“I hope officials responsible for road safety take into account all the measures referred to in the feasibility study. It’s now time for action and not just words.”
Whitney Elizabeth Hughes led the petition for additional safety improvements to prevent further fatalities along the road, following the death of her mother, Gillian Williams, in a collision in October 2019. She wants to see speed cameras and better lighting installed on the road.
Other fatalities on the road include Tony Southwood, who died after being involved in a collision on October 9 2019, and a man in his 40s who was killed at the junction with Verulam Road and Hempstead Road on December 15 2016. Another person died – and three were seriously injured – in a collision on Redbourn Road on May 12 2018.
HCC’s feasibility study reviewed all existing information including prior traffic surveys, reports and personal injury collision histories, and incorporated the outcomes of a public perception survey documenting accidents and dashcam footage of dangerous overtaking.
