Following a series of fatal road accidents in Mid Wales over recent months, one Mid Wales AM has called on the Government to do more to make the rural road network a safer place to navigate.
Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has taken the opportunity to raise the issue of safety on rural roads in Mid Wales with Welsh Minsters, as there have been a significant number of tragic road traffic incidents over the last few months.
Mr George said that one particular stretch of road, the A44, which ran across the south of Montgomeryshire, was statically one of the most dangerous roads in Wales. He also said that more needed to be done in the way of rural road safety education, as well as identifying the most notorious black-spots on various stretches of Welsh roads so that they could be made safer.
Responding, the Welsh Minister for Transport, Edwina Hart, said that she had noticed a pattern of serious road accidents in that area and had already asked her Director of Transport to undertake a piece of work, looking at what more the Welsh Government can do to enhance safety on our roads. She said the final report would be issued with a further Government Statement in the autumn.
However she added that in the meantime, she remained committed to working with all Welsh Government partners, which include the police and local authorities, to tackle casualty reduction targets.
Mr George said:
“I welcome the Ministers commitment to doing more to make rural roads safer.
“Certainly this time of the year we do experience a spike in road traffic accidents on Mid Wales roads; there have been a number of tragic cases in the media just recently and our thoughts and prayers go out to those families affected.
“The Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner has also recently expressed his concerns regarding casualties and fatalities and while of course the education of vehicle drivers is important, we also need to examine the many notorious black-spots on various stretches of roads across rural Mid Wales and make them safer for all road users.”
