A few residents have been in touch over the past few days to tell me about their frustration at drivers passing through the roundabout at the entrance to the Bradley Lowery Way housing estate on the wrong side of the road. Although this is reported to happen as an exception the risk of an accident is causing considerable concern among residents and other road users.
The point has been made by residents that this issue is not about the layout of the roundabout itself - their concerns are about drivers putting lives at risk by deliberately taking the roundabout on the right-hand side of the road, in the face of oncoming traffic. This seems to be a particular problem with vehicles approaching the roundabout from the A1086 Coast Road heading west towards Hesleden and Castle Eden, and it takes place despite remodelling of the roundabout a few months ago.
The measures put in place earlier this year include improved street lighting and additional signage on the roadside and on the roundabout itself, so there can be no confusion about the presence of the roundabout. Now that the visibility and layout of the road has improved significantly it’s clear that a handful of drivers are going out of their way to drive on the wrong side of the road. The reason why they choose to do this is known only to the drivers themselves, but these deliberately dangerous practices are raising residents’ concerns that they’re likely to cause an accident sooner or later.
In response to residents' concerns I’ve contacted the police and highways authority with a request they consider any additional measures they can take to either prevent or deter drivers from putting their lives, and those of others, at risk by driving on the wrong side of the road.
Concealed CCTV coverage has been suggested as a potential deterrent, and I've asked for this option to be considered, but I’ve also asked the authorities to do whatever they think is necessary to put an end to this dangerous and irresponsible practice.
