Thousands of Somerset residents calling for extended 30mph speed limit on 'extremely dangerous' road
The A361 connects Taunton to numerous small villages on the Somerset Levels
Last updated 2nd Oct 2024
Nearly 16,000 people have called for a 30mph speed limit on a crucial Somerset road to be extended following two recent fatalities.
In the last year, there have been two deaths on the A361 a few miles from Taunton – Destiney Rauh, a 27-year-old motorcyclist who died near West Lyng in February, and a male victim (whose name has not yet been released) who died in a two-vehicle crash on August 20.
Thousands of concerned residents have signed a petition calling on Somerset Council to extend the 30mph on the “extremely dangerous” approach to East Lyng, arguing there are “near-misses on a daily basis” and there could be further fatalities if nothing is done.
The council said it was awaiting the outcome of Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s ongoing investigation into the August crash, but would be making some changes by the end of the financial year.
Amy Frend, who has lived in East Lyng for just over a year, presented her petition to the full council when it met in Bridgwater on Thursday afternoon (September 26).
She said: “This particular section of the road has a speed limit of 50mph, which is often ignored and vehicles travel in excess of this.
“It is at times extremely dangerous; cars will often go to overtake as you start to slow in readiness to turn, which is just an accident waiting to happen.”