Crash fuels call for speed cameras on Oxford road
It follows the crash on Thursday on Morrell Avenue
A car crash on a residential road in Oxford has fuelled urgent calls for speed cameras with locals calling it a “disaster-waiting-to-happen zone”.
Two drivers were hospitalised after a white BMW drove into the back of a black taxi on Morrell Avenue near Headington Hill on Thursday evening (May 29).
Images show the front of the BMW and rear of the taxi were completely smashed.
Police and ambulance services appeared at the scene and the two drivers were taken to hospital, but no-one was seriously injured.
Morrell Avenue Area Residents Association (MAARA) have been campaigning for speed cameras and a bus gate on the road since the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) were introduced in 2022.
The road has a 20mph speed limit, but the group say they have recorded speeds of up to 95mph.
The day before the crash, county councillor Emma Garnett and city councillor Alex Powell met with the group to discuss ways of tackling dangerous driving.
Ms Garnett, who represents the Parks division and was at the scene yesterday, said: “Residents have been sounding the alarm on this for a while.
“We absolutely need speed cameras on Morrell Avenue before something dangerous happens.
“If there had been cyclists or pedestrians on the pavement they would have been crushed between the car and the wall, and that would have been catastrophic.
“I think we need to be reframing speeding not as a minor traffic violation but as a dangerous and extremely violent crime.
“There are far too many fatalities and serious injuries on Oxfordshire roads.
“We are really keen to install speed cameras, but the only one that can do that is Thames Valley Police.
“Enforcing speed limits, particularly the 20mph speed limits, and setting up speed cameras in dangerous hotspots, would be one of the most effective things that Thames Valley Police can do to reduce death, violent crime and tragedy in our county.
“This needs to be a priority.
“The technology is there. We just need the political willpower for Thames Valley Police to implement and enforce it.”
Aeron Buchanan, chairman of the MAARA who also visited the crash last night, said: “It is indeed ironic that only the day before, we were meeting with our Green councillors to reiterate the problems of speeding and high traffic numbers on Morrell Avenue.
“Enforcement of 20mph speed limits is vital to making them work, because when observed they really do work to make our streets safer.
“Despite being a fully residential street, being plagued by some drivers regularly exceeding 50mph, including speeds of up to 95mph, means that until speed cameras and a bus gate are installed, it remains a disaster-waiting-to-happen zone.”
Police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley Matthew Barber previously announced early-stage plans to roll out average speed cameras on the A420, with a view to expanding it to other roads in the region if successful.
Both Ms Garnett and MAARA say they support these plans.
Mr Buchanan said: “I look forward to the commissioner acting on his words and getting more speed enforcement cameras onto Oxford’s street, not least Morrell Avenue.”
Ms Garnett and Mr Powell say they will write to the PCC and Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, urging them to install new speed cameras in Oxford and to make enforcing speed limits a priority.
They will also ask that the government address the serious regulatory problems at the national level which impede effective action on speeding and law breaking.
When contacted for comment, Mr Barber said: “Road safety remains an important focus for Thames Valley Police, in conjunction with local councils.
“I am pleased that the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads continues to fall.
“In order to keep our roads safe, we need to properly understand the causes of individual incidents.
“Some will of course, relate to speed, whereas others may be caused by the illegal use of mobile phones, drink, drugs and reckless driving.”
He added that there was more than one police car patrolling the city on Thursday night, contrary to reports that there was only one in the city.
There were calls for the 20pmh speed limit on Iffley Road to be more strongly enforced last December after a series of car crashes on the road.