"MY CONSTITUENTS ARE DYING ON THE ROADS" SAYS MANUELA PERTEGHELLA MP
Manuela’s debate included cross party MPs who joined her in supporting the call for urgent Government action.
Introducing the debate, Liberal Democrat Manuela Perteghella MP said:
“My constituents are dying on the roads as a direct result of the inaction of successive Governments on tackling the scourge of speeding and dangerous driving,
“On 19 May, a constituent contacted me to say that drivers on a road near them were regularly travelling at more than double the 30-mph speed limit. I wrote to the Government to raise their concerns; On the day that the Government response arrived, there was another fatal accident on that road; the third death on south Warwickshire roads in a few days.
On the specific problem in rural areas:
“Narrow roads prevent us from having chicanes or narrowings, because large farm vehicles need to use the road as well. Streetlights are also an issue when we have many dark sky villages.”
“Speed limits of 30 mph mean very little when there is no enforcement to back them up. Our country lanes carry cars, lorries, farm vehicles and cyclists, and collision blackspots are all too common.
On collision blackspots in Ettington, Stratford-upon-Avon and Billesley:
“Where the A422 Banbury Road meets the B4455 Fosse Way, just east of the village of Ettington; drivers, cyclists, bikers and farm workers navigate a junction that should never have been designed the way it was.
“There are many other dangerous junctions, including Oakleigh Road and Justins Avenue, off the Birmingham Road in Stratford-upon-Avon.”
“I have had meetings with National Highways about the Billesley junction on the A46, but we are still waiting for improvements to that junction, where several fatalities have already happened.”
On the impact on local schools and villages:
“Speeding near schools is an issue. The children of Mappleborough Green primary school have written to me as they are experiencing fear and anxiety when crossing and walking along a very busy road that still has a 40-mph limit.
“We have a 40-mph limit outside a primary school. We are not getting any support in keeping those young children safe on their journey to school.”
“Constituents have contacted me about speeding on the A3400 through Wootton Wawen village, which is making it difficult for elderly residents to cross the road to go to the post office or the shops and, again, for children to go to school.”
Manuela explained that many councils are not dealing with the problem:
“The scale of death and serious injury on our roads demands bold, evidence-based action—and it demands that now. We need national legislation that is properly enforceable, that sets clear thresholds for interventions on dangerous roads and that does not leave communities at the mercy of local councils that are failing in their duty of care.”
Manuela spoke out specifically against Reform led Warwickshire County Council:
“[My constituency of Stratford-on-Avon is] left exposed by the Reform-run Warwickshire County council. Parish councils and community watch groups work hard to gather data, but it is incredibly difficult to implement any type of traffic calming measures or speed reduction orders. Often, even if those are agreed, the cost of the proposals falls on parish and town councils. The problem is felt with particular force in rural constituencies like mine.”
Manuela hit out at national legislation that prevents positive action from being taken:
“Every time I ask for cameras, I am told that there have to have been five fatalities.”
“With the new national road safety strategy, we have a real opportunity to ensure that we reduce serious injuries and deaths on the roads.
“We must identify the risks before lives are lost and intervene accordingly. That is the change in culture that Members have mentioned, and the change in policy that the Government must now commit to. There must be cultural change at council level, too, as currently there is a reactive culture.”