Safety checks after second crash in as many months at mini-roundabout in Afan Valley Road, Cimla
A SAFETY investigation will be carried out at a controversial Neath mini-roundabout following the second crash there in as many months.
The second bump on Afan Valley Road involved two cars, one of which ended up on Cimla Common and the other on the pavement.
-
Now, following protests from residents and local councillors, Neath Port Talbot is to carry out a safety audit to see what it can do to make the junction safer.
The roundabout opened at the junction of Afan Valley Road, Bwlch Road and Cae Rhys Ddu in 2008.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
At the time, highways chiefs said the change was necessary because the old junction was dangerous and there had been several accidents.
But residents felt it had not solved the problem. Speaking out at a Pact meeting in 2009, they claimed there had been several near-misses, describing the mini-roundabout as a fatality waiting to happen.
Similar complaints were made at subsequent Pact gatherings.
Now Cimla councillor John Warman has made a new call for action. "We had a bump a few days ago and there was another one in November," he said. "There have also been several near misses," he said.
"The most recent accident ended up with one car on the pavement and the other on the common. Fortunately no-one was hurt. It was very lucky nobody was on the pavement at the time or it could have been much worse.
"A lot of drivers coming up the hill don't treat it as a mini-roundabout but go straight through it instead of stopping. It's a very busy road and some of the vehicles travel quite quickly.
"Something really does need to be done about it. It is a matter of some concern for people in the area."
Neath Port Talbot's head of engineering and transport David Griffiths happened to be in the area and saw the two cars shortly after the accident happened.
"I will get a road safety audit done and look at the accident statistics to see if there are any measures that can be taken to improve the situation," said Mr Griffiths.
Comments
by Jiffy
Friday, January 11 2013, 12:25PM
“Another example of poor driving. There have been a lot of accidents recently and no doubt not one of the drivers involved will admit they were driving badly when the incidents occurred.”
by ghost_
Friday, January 11 2013, 9:48AM
“If people took the time to drive properly and read the road signs and markings around them, then there wouldn't be an issue. It's a pair of mini-roundabouts, not rocket science.
With regard to Mr Warmans comment - "A lot of drivers coming up the hill don't treat it as a mini-roundabout but go straight through it instead of stopping." If there is no traffic coming off the Common then there's no issue with that. Visibility is good enough on approach coming up the hill, although drivers should slow to confirm that is the case.
I have found the greatest danger comes from drivers travelling down Cimla Road not slowing for the roundabouts, as they 'should' be giving way to oncoming traffic wanting to turn right off Cimla Road onto the Common roads.”