Calls for lower speed limits on the A63 in East Yorkshire
It's after a number of serious and fatal collisions
Last updated 5th Jan 2023
Three East Riding councillors have called for safety assessments and looking at lower speed limits on the A63 following a spate of serious and fatal accidents.
Councillors Julie Abraham, Richard Meredith and Pat Smith, all from wards which the A63 dual carriageway runs through, said they were becoming increasingly concerned about safety on it.
Cllr Abraham said accidents had also led to gridlock on the A63 and local roads traffic had been diverted to while Cllr Meredith said they were slowing emergency service responses.
National Highways Route Manager Cameron Farrell said they were trialling 60mph limits and had set a target of zero people killed or seriously injured on its roads by 2040.
It comes after a crash on eastbound carriageway of the A63 on Wednesday, December 28 close to the Humber Bridge.
The crash saw the road partially blocked and traffic backed up as far as North Ferriby.
It came after Humberside Police were called to two crashes at the same time and place, both involving one car hitting another, near South Cave on Thursday, December 15.
Cllr Abraham, of South Hunsley ward, said their call which includes looking at lowering the speed limit could also improve air quality as well as safety.
The councillor said: “We have been increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the frequency of incidents on the route which have involved a fatality and serious injury.
“The impact of these accidents is of course devastating for those involved and for families and friends of the deceased and injured.
“The subsequent disruption on the main highway network is also of concern, both for those motorists that are unable to continue their journey or get off the carriageway.
“We are also requesting an assessment as to whether a lower speed limit might also improve air quality in general for our residents and school children, a particular concern being particulate matter given off from tyres and brakes.
“Whilst dangerous nitrogen dioxide might reduce in the future with the increased use of electric vehicles, levels of particulate matter are unlikely to reduce and this is a real concern given all of the major industrial sites being approved alongside the A63 both east and west of Hull.”
Cllr Meredith said he was concerned that delays from accidents were also harming the local economy.
The Dale ward councillor said: “The impact on the local economy must at times be quite significant and the burden on the emergency services goes without saying.
“The villages alongside the A63 become gridlocked for the period of the carriageway closures causing delays for residents and difficulties exiting side roads.
“Air quality monitors alongside the A63 show spikes in emissions during such disruption causing health concerns for residents in the villages and also for the students of South Hunsley School.”
Cllr Smith, also of Dale ward, said National Highways should consider whether a lower speed limit would cut the number of accidents in future.
Mr Farrell said National Highways would be reporting on the results of its 60mph speed limit trials in eight locations by the middle of this year.
The route manager said: “Safety is National Highways’ number one priority and we take the safety performance of our network very seriously.
“The performance of our network from both a safety and congestion perspective remains under constant review, with accident as well as traffic flow data forming a key part in the development and prioritisation of schemes in our forward programme.
“We receive collision data from the police which contains incident causes. If the police have concerns over the performance of our network then they raise this with us immediately following an incident.
“We are currently undertaking a national trial at eight locations where speed limits have been reduced to ascertain if there is a measurable improvement in air quality.
“We are hopeful our report will provide guidance regarding the viability of using speed limit reduction to tackle air quality issues.”