Another safety step foward (From Gazette & Herald)

Another safety step foward

FEBRUARY 20. I've not usually been one who blames roads for vehicle crashes, and have seldom gone along with those lurid headlines sometimes seen, like, 'Killer Road bags another victim'. My policy has always been to drive according to the road, and its conditions, and keep the onus of responsibility for safety in the hands of the person behind the wheel. However, having said that, I have always had a sort of an uneasy feeling when leaving the A64 dual carriageway, and approaching Welburn Lane junction, on a dark, wet night, especially.

After the safety of a tarmac 'corridor' one is suddenly faced with a complete loss of highway, and confronted with an absolutely huge expense of black tarmac, amongst which, 'somewhere' is your road. Faced with oncoming headlamps, and a wet reflective road, there is no wonder the stranger, especially, finds himself in a no-man's land. I've analysed this over the years, and arrived at the conclusion that, although one's route needs to be fairly straight-ahead, one then has to take a longish left-hand curve. All this is complicated by the sudden reduction in the speed limit, and the road junction.

I would be much happier if my route could be over the top of the existing refuge and bollards, and across the wide grass verge, before joining the single carriageway again. This would be the 'natural' route! So, my answer to the succession of crashes at this junction would be to re-route the Malton-bound carriageway so that it does precisely that. This would mean taking away 12 feet or so of the existing wide verge, and putting the carriageway there, and putting a tapering central reservation alongside it to keep the lanes separate here.

A need to get the dual-carriageway speed down, quickly, to single-carriageway limits at this point needs expert attention, for this is perhaps another major factor of problems here.

Still on highways, isn't the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Castle Howard Road and York Road a super solution! By the time you read this I expect the barriers will have been removed, and the road-centre refuge will be welcomed by the many pedestrians who, (a bit like Welburn Lane end), have been faced with a large area of tarmac to cross. Looked at both in daylight and at night I can't see any problems with this, even with HGVs. Another safety step forward!

Bus shelters next. It seems the space age is taking over from the traditional country style. A lot of hard work going in, on these, and those who catch buses will be delighted at the vision they allow and the shelter they give, and from a practical aspect they are super. There are, of course, several misgivings because in many cases of their close proximity to the highway itself, and the views of country folk who are sad to see the loss of their stone-built shelters. I understand they were built with the help and support of the villages, and blended in with the rural scene far better than the glass and steel of the new shelters. Did we ever 'accept' the new style telephone kiosks in country locations? Not really. Time moves on, and the new generations give us their ideas whether they are liked or not. I expect many a budding romance blossomed in the old stone shelters. Sorry, lads and lasses, that seems to have gone forever - it's all in the open now!

Someone the other day used the expression, "like Billie O", and I recall looking this up to try and find its origin, which I seem to remember was something to do with Billy Norman. Can't trace that one now, despite a thorough search, but I expect someone will know.

An interesting letter on the subject of those flashing rear lights used on pedal-cycles (not push-bikes please) appeared in a cycling magazine recently. It is generally known that if they are used in conjunction with 'regular' rear lamp (ie with a filament lamp) then they are allowed. But as the sole rear lamp then they are illegal. The writer said that he'd attended the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, at which time the area was being patrolled by about 30 policemen on bikes. Every one of them had a flashing rear light, and when he attempted to explain to one of them that they were illegal he was met with a blank stare, and a shrug of the shoulders. It really can't be long before the law comes into line with public usage, and I must admit that a flashing lamp 'catches' the eye more than just one more red lamp ahead. Lancashire, and its folk, being renowned for their common-sense approach to life in general, are this time supported by their police service. However, don't rely too much on what they do in Lancs. Different police services have different ideas, which is an odd thing about the law.

Quote: "Who thinks the law has anything to do with justice? It's what we have because we can't have justice." William McIlvanney. British writer (b 1936.)

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, March 05, 2003