Map showing Accidents
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B4077 Near Alderton - History of Events
Following a series of accidents this year on the B4077 a group was set up. Meetings were prompted by a recent fatality at the garage on the B4077 near Alderton.
At various times this has included Keith Page (chair), Jim H, Rob Phillips, Paul Smith, Victoria Copas, Jonathan Everett, Roger Knapp. Bernard Gill (Gretton),
Meetings held at Corner Cottage B&B 7:00pm
A full meeting was held at Gotherington Village Hall
The B4077 (A438) has for some time been a strategic road east west using the crossing of the Severn at Tewkesbury http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A438 . As an old sheep droving road to Stow it's always bypassed villages such as Alderton, Gretton and Toddington (not new town)
In trying to improve safety a range of schemes had been suggested including 40mph limit along the whole length to local improvements in road layout and signage at hazards.
However it was agreed that if a speed limit seems there for no apparent reason it will be ignored ( as we saw with the 20mph signs) The DfT Guidance on setting local speed limits says:-
What the road looks like to road users should be a key factor when setting a speed limit.
Mean speeds should be used as the basis for determining local speed limits. These are underpinned by extensive research demonstrating the well proven relationship between speed and accident frequency and severity, and also reflect what the majority of drivers perceive as an appropriate speed to be driven for the road.
The minimum length of a speed limit should generally be not less than 600 metres to avoid too many changes of speed limit along the route.
Speed limits should not be used to attempt to solve the problem of isolated hazards, such as a single road junction or reduced forward visibility such as a bend.
Indeed, if a speed limit is set in isolation, or is unrealistically low, it is likely to be ineffective and lead to disrespect for the speed limit. As well as requiring significant, and avoidable, enforcement costs, this may also result in substantial numbers of drivers continuing to travel at unacceptable speeds, thus increasing the risk of collisions and injuries.
Speed limits should be considered as only one part of rural safety management. The first priority where accident rates are high should be to seek cost-effective improvements to reduce these rates, targeting the accident types that are over-represented.
Where there is signing or road markings, they should be for a purpose, otherwise motorists become used to ignoring the signs. The B4077 has a number of issues:
At various times this has included Keith Page (chair), Jim H, Rob Phillips, Paul Smith, Victoria Copas, Jonathan Everett, Roger Knapp. Bernard Gill (Gretton),
Meetings held at Corner Cottage B&B 7:00pm
A full meeting was held at Gotherington Village Hall
The B4077 (A438) has for some time been a strategic road east west using the crossing of the Severn at Tewkesbury http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A438 . As an old sheep droving road to Stow it's always bypassed villages such as Alderton, Gretton and Toddington (not new town)
In trying to improve safety a range of schemes had been suggested including 40mph limit along the whole length to local improvements in road layout and signage at hazards.
However it was agreed that if a speed limit seems there for no apparent reason it will be ignored ( as we saw with the 20mph signs) The DfT Guidance on setting local speed limits says:-
What the road looks like to road users should be a key factor when setting a speed limit.
Mean speeds should be used as the basis for determining local speed limits. These are underpinned by extensive research demonstrating the well proven relationship between speed and accident frequency and severity, and also reflect what the majority of drivers perceive as an appropriate speed to be driven for the road.
The minimum length of a speed limit should generally be not less than 600 metres to avoid too many changes of speed limit along the route.
Speed limits should not be used to attempt to solve the problem of isolated hazards, such as a single road junction or reduced forward visibility such as a bend.
Indeed, if a speed limit is set in isolation, or is unrealistically low, it is likely to be ineffective and lead to disrespect for the speed limit. As well as requiring significant, and avoidable, enforcement costs, this may also result in substantial numbers of drivers continuing to travel at unacceptable speeds, thus increasing the risk of collisions and injuries.
Speed limits should be considered as only one part of rural safety management. The first priority where accident rates are high should be to seek cost-effective improvements to reduce these rates, targeting the accident types that are over-represented.
Where there is signing or road markings, they should be for a purpose, otherwise motorists become used to ignoring the signs. The B4077 has a number of issues:
Weight limit not at the next turn
Photos © googlemaps
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Cross roads where no cross roads
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Village where no village
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The group heard every now and again there are unreported accidents with traffic turning out of the garage or out of the lane from Alderton. There are also issues at the Gretton turning and at Frampton Cottages.
Events leading up to the Accident
During April 2012 a programme of resurfacing began along the B4077. After patching any obvious potholes this involved spreading tar along the road and covering it with gravel. At times the road was closed to allow the works to take place.
On Friday 13th April just as the roadworks passed the Alderton turning an accident took place at the Gretton Turning. A cyclist and a motorist both turning off the B4077 collided at the triangle it is believed the right side of the photo below. The roadworks were put on hold but as the 'Skid Risk 20mph' signs had already been erected, they were left in place.
Events leading up to the Accident
During April 2012 a programme of resurfacing began along the B4077. After patching any obvious potholes this involved spreading tar along the road and covering it with gravel. At times the road was closed to allow the works to take place.
On Friday 13th April just as the roadworks passed the Alderton turning an accident took place at the Gretton Turning. A cyclist and a motorist both turning off the B4077 collided at the triangle it is believed the right side of the photo below. The roadworks were put on hold but as the 'Skid Risk 20mph' signs had already been erected, they were left in place.
The photo taken on 15th April, shows loose gravel still lying on the road. A centre white dash is just visible in line with the 20mph signs showing where the next stage of the resurfacing was to continue.
Wednesday 23rd (Olympic Torch came to Cheltenham).
Wednesday 23rd (Olympic Torch came to Cheltenham).
Motorbike slid off road approaching from Teddington :
Quoted from the Echo:
Last Wednesday evening my friend and I rode this stretch of road while on the way to a motorbikers event. At one point we were actually following the lorry gritting the surface of the road. I'm not sure what benefit this has for cars and lorries but it made the road surface highly unstable for motorbikes. There were no 20 mph speed limits posted anywhere along this stretch of road, or warnings of road gritting.
On our way home just before 9pm, I tended to a 20 year-old motorbiker with significant injuries, who had lost control on one of the bends leading towards the Hobnails pub, and had planted his bike into the trees. Having ridden bikes for over 35 years now, I know that bikers should always be aware of, and ride to, the road conditions. However, in this case I believe the accident was due in part at least to an excess build-up of grit on the bend, which in the half-light was not at all obvious, nor expected to anyone who routinely travels this road.
Last Wednesday evening my friend and I rode this stretch of road while on the way to a motorbikers event. At one point we were actually following the lorry gritting the surface of the road. I'm not sure what benefit this has for cars and lorries but it made the road surface highly unstable for motorbikes. There were no 20 mph speed limits posted anywhere along this stretch of road, or warnings of road gritting.
On our way home just before 9pm, I tended to a 20 year-old motorbiker with significant injuries, who had lost control on one of the bends leading towards the Hobnails pub, and had planted his bike into the trees. Having ridden bikes for over 35 years now, I know that bikers should always be aware of, and ride to, the road conditions. However, in this case I believe the accident was due in part at least to an excess build-up of grit on the bend, which in the half-light was not at all obvious, nor expected to anyone who routinely travels this road.
Kath Haworth, of Gloucestershire Highways, said: "We carried out surface dressing on the road some weeks ago but, following the recent hot spell, the surface began to 'sweat'.
"So at the end of last week, we dusted the surface with fine grit and we also put out 20mph speed signs to warn drivers.
Thursday 24th Vehicle from Toddington slid off the road
Saturday 26th May a fatal collision occurred
"So at the end of last week, we dusted the surface with fine grit and we also put out 20mph speed signs to warn drivers.
Thursday 24th Vehicle from Toddington slid off the road
Saturday 26th May a fatal collision occurred
Photo taken 27th May from the Alderton junction opposite the garage showing the gravel still on the road.
Note also the less than convenient positioning of the highways sign and the road markings showing overtaking motorists they should pull back in before the dip ahead
Note also the less than convenient positioning of the highways sign and the road markings showing overtaking motorists they should pull back in before the dip ahead
Photo 27th May from Gretton Junction showing the gravel left on the surface except where traffic had moved it away between wheel tracks. Note at some point since April the white lines have been repainted.
Photo 27th May showing the road approaching Gretton turning. Although its been patched and has the 20mph skid risk signs it hasn’t had the gravel treatment.
It had become apparent that for weeks most people had been ignoring the 20mph skid risk signs assuming they'd been left out for no apparent reason and were back up to normal speeds of 50-60mph. Anyone approaching in this direction from Toddington would have thought it a perfectly satisfactory piece of road and assume the signs had been left out. As soon as they'd passed the Gretton Junction, they might well think the same. Unless they moved off line (if say someone had pulled out) and tried braking on the lines of gravel.
If there was a case of signs crying wolf this would be it.
Other issues
It had become apparent that for weeks most people had been ignoring the 20mph skid risk signs assuming they'd been left out for no apparent reason and were back up to normal speeds of 50-60mph. Anyone approaching in this direction from Toddington would have thought it a perfectly satisfactory piece of road and assume the signs had been left out. As soon as they'd passed the Gretton Junction, they might well think the same. Unless they moved off line (if say someone had pulled out) and tried braking on the lines of gravel.
If there was a case of signs crying wolf this would be it.
Other issues
Map showing the location of Alderton Village off the B4077. Frampton Cottages alongside the road
Copyright Microsoft courtesy Ordnance Survey
Google maps photo towards garage, Alderton turning left
Copyright Microsoft courtesy Ordnance Survey
Google maps photo towards garage, Alderton turning left
Google photos are taken from height. At road level little more than the hedge and garage is visible
Frampton Cottages
There are three issues at Frampton Cottages
a) traffic speeds - exceeding the speed limit
b) when residents heading west try to turn right into their driveways they can be overtaken by (surprised) motorists
c) when residents turn right out of their driveways motorists suddenly come up behind over the crest of the hill.
There are three issues at Frampton Cottages
a) traffic speeds - exceeding the speed limit
b) when residents heading west try to turn right into their driveways they can be overtaken by (surprised) motorists
c) when residents turn right out of their driveways motorists suddenly come up behind over the crest of the hill.
Looking west and interesting google photo for a number of reasons.
a) the photo was taken before the double white lines were installed
b) At the height of the google camera it's possible to see over the crest as if it wasn’t there
c) It's not at all obvious the houses to the right ( if they can be seen at normal eye level) have driveways onto the road
a) the photo was taken before the double white lines were installed
b) At the height of the google camera it's possible to see over the crest as if it wasn’t there
c) It's not at all obvious the houses to the right ( if they can be seen at normal eye level) have driveways onto the road
Looking east the Crest is more visible as are the driveways.
