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LATEST 'PREVENTABLE' CRASH?
Saturday night 5 November, Sunday morning 6 November? Longholme Road C110/C111 Junction inside 40 mph limit. Vauxhall car overshoots the junction missing sign posts, which have been hit on several previous occasions. Again, luck through no other traffic saved injuries and/or deaths!
Below, debris from the latest crash!
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Local lad crashes in Upwood, Sunday morning 30 October in the 40 mph limit.
No injuries or deaths, thanks only to Lady Luck!!
How long will Lady Luck continue to protect residents, road users and pedestrians?
This road and foot path is used by pedestrians daily, fortunately there were none present and only through luck.
That there were no deaths or injuries is due to luck - LADY LUCK!
The lad who crashed is local, living in Upwood, knows the road and is familiar with the deaths and injuries.
More than adequate warnings are given of the corner! In a 40 limit there was no excuse to cross over and crash. It should have been possible to pull the powerful Audi up without crossing the road and partially demolishing a tree. Trees and Audi cars can be replaced, children cannot!
It is for the above reasons we need a 30 limit NOW! Children walk this route to school, they have every right to walk this route without fellow residents trying to kill them, what more can we say?
Dark days and a hard winter is shortly to come, warnings of the dangers of this road are known, now is the time for action.
Look and the pictures below and see the path the vehicle travelled across the pavement and grass, where children walk, then ask, are our comments above unfair?
Below, a head lamp unit and other bits can be seen, giving an idea of the forces involved as the vehicle finally came to rest!
Below, the path the vehicle travelled can be clearly seen, across a pavement, grass and eventually uprooting a tree, trees can be replaced, people cannot!
Below, about 80 feet from the crash lies a coil spring, this gives some indication the speed the vehicle was travelling when it hit the tree and parts were ejected several feet!
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Crash, C111 between Fairmead and the village, Sunday night 25 September, 2005.
The promised 50 mph speed limit is still needed on this stretch of road that has seen five deaths in a hundred yards or so, please, no promises, action is required!
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All within two minutes drive of the school! Click on picture below
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International Walk to School Week
Monday 3 - Friday 7 October, 2005
http://www.walktoschool.org.uk
This year, the Walk to School Campaign is focusing on the health benefits of walking to school. We ask, does Upwood really present a safe environment for children to walk to school?
Just one of many crashes on the C110, Longholme Road, Upwood in the 40 mph just prior to where the children cross the road to school.
School zones are areas where drivers are warned of the presence of children using variable speed limits and warning signs, which are switched on at school times. At other times the speed limit is the existing limit for that road. This way road users are not inconvenienced through limits that are too low, but children are protected and road users warned when children are about. At school holidays the reduced limits are not used, but only when the children are attending school.
The Parish Council has voted to apply for a School Zone which can be funded under the AJC, which is seeking applications.
For further information on school zones and pictures, please scroll down.
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End the body counts, use link above for more info.
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Good news!
The C111 from the School to Bury (NSL) has new welcomed improvements made, including resurfacing, solid white lines where the cars cross over, much more warnings, both standing signs and painted markings on the road. The authorities are considering reducing the limit from 60 mph (NSL) to 50 MPH. This will reinforce the difficulties of this road. They are welcomed and should make the road safer for all.
URSG thank the County County, their officers (Mark Kemp and Karen Lunn) and councillors for their hard work in getting these improvements introduced so quickly.
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“Local Road Safety Group Supports National Road Safety Week with Donation to Primary School.”
Local Cambridgeshire residents who formed the Upwood Road Safety Group (URSG) are supporting National Road Safety Week by donating 30, child-size High Visibility waistcoats to the Upwood Primary School.
A URSG group spokesman said, “We are pleased to be able to make this donation to our local school in order to improve the visibility and safety of the pupils when they are undertaking activities close to what continues to be a very dangerous rural village road. We feel certain that the school will be able to make good use of the waistcoats when on village walks and also during cycle safety tuition.”
The group is continuing its campaign to ask Cambridgeshire County Council to make improvements to the road in and around Upwood village in order to reduce high vehicle speeds and escalating accident rates. In the last fortnight alone there have been 2 separate incidents of vehicles being driven inappropriately, losing control and running off the road at locations used daily by children walking to the school. In one case the vehicle drove straight across the pedestrian footpath at high speed.
The URSG spokesman added, “We are very happy to support National Road Safety Week with a local initiative. At a time when numbers of under 15’s being killed or seriously injured in road collisions is dramatically rising in Cambridgeshire, we feel it is important that we and the County Council should be doing everything we can to reverse the trend. The reality of what we have to live with in our village can be seen on our website – www.ursg.org.”
The school’s Headteacher, Sharon Whitelaw said, “The children and staff at Upwood Primary School would like to thank the Upwood Road Safety Group for their very kind donation of the 30 waistcoats. As a school, we are touched by the kindness and support of the local community. The safety of the children is paramount at all times.”
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SPEEDING IN UPWOOD
The Government is running an extensive campaign "SPEED KILLS", this gives an entirely false message. As any competent driver knows, speed does not kill or we'd all be dead! Speed in the right place is not the issue, there are many places where a competent driver is perfectly safe at speed in a modern vehicle. Upwood (or any village or town) is not one of those places.
What kills and is a significant factor in many crashes is an inappropriate speed. It is inappropriate speed that is a major causation in vehicle crashes.
And as we know 'appropriate speed' requires the driver to evaluate a number of factors and so driver education and practice is the issue in Upwood. In the 40 mph limit between Farm Close and Meadow Road (C110) there are six junctions, five of which are placed in areas of limited visibility. In addition to this are many private properties coming out onto the main road. Then there is the C111 Longholme Road with the same problems.
Appropriate speed in our 40 mph limit is not 50, or 60mph (or even higher). Allowing for traffic density and visibility, we believe 30 mph is an appropriated speed. When the children walk to school, a variable speed limit where they cross should be introduced (20 mph at school times).
Drivers who speed through Upwood are not using appropriate speed, but inappropriate speed being unaware of their surroundings. They are a menace who to those with whom they share the road.
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Welcome to the URSG WEB SITE
First, the good news!
The C111 from the School to Bury (NSL) has had welcomed improvements made, including resurfacing, solid white lines where the cars cross over, much more warnings, both standing signs on the road. The authorities are considering reducing the limit from 60 mph (NSL) to 50 MPH. They are welcomed and should make the road safer for all.
There still needs to be improvements to the 40mph limit around the village, and URSG look forward to working with the Parish Council and County Council to improve this road and the introduction of a 'School Zone'.
Below, Hemingford Grey (nr St. Ives) has a variable 20 mph speed limit, that is used when the children are crossing the road, going to school.
Here in Hill Rise, St. Ives there is a painted triangle on the road, warning drivers of children.
Here in Hill Rise, not only is there the painted triangle it is also a 20 mph limit.
Here in Alconbury Weston (a few minutes from Upwood) there is an interactive speed warning sign and speed humps, positioned together.
*THINK!*
A vehicle travelling at 60 mph covers 270 feet in just 3 seconds!
A vehicle travelling at 60 mph takes four times longer to stop than the same vehicle travelling at 30 mph!
At 60 mph a child will most likely explode on impact with a vehicle, we have recorded 60 mph at school times when the children are out. The injuries received are likely to require the Fire Service and a pressure washer. These speeds are common at school time on the C111 and C110, Upwood.
At 40 mph, the present speed limit 8 out of 10 children die on impact with a vehicle. As such, most children hit by a vehicle at the legal limit (40mph) will require the undertakers.
At 30 mph, the 8 out to 10 children hit by vehicles survive, the injuries may be severe, but at least the Ambulance service and their paramedics are equipped for such.
At 20 mph the injuries are usually slight and few deaths occur, survival being almost guaranteed.
20 MPH outside of schools, at school crossings, and at school time is now becoming normal. But not in Upwood where vehicles frequently travel at 60 mph - We say this is an abomination!
Most child pedestrians killed by vehicles step or run out into the road suddenly, usually near a school, often when they are late or see a friend. This is why elsewhere in England the authorities are introducing 20 mph 'school zones', a vehicle travelling at 20 mph allows the driver time to react, and the child time to see the vehicle. At 60 mph it is all over - instantly!
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Test your reaction times with URSG!
Click on "Start" first, and wait until the background colour in the box to your left changes. As soon as it changes, hit "BRAKE!"
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Snail mail address:
URSG
PO Box 1
Ramsey
Huntingdon, PE26 2YZ
Or by email
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Politicians supporting safer roads for Upwood and parish -
We have been supported by County Councillor Susan Normington, our previous MP, Lord Mawhinney. A big thank you is is given for his hard work and interest to date, pictured below at the village fete this.
Our (new) MP, Shailesh Vara (Conservative), who has shown interest and we look forward to working with him. You can contact Shailesh by email at:
Shailesh at our stand at the village fete.
Our (new) local County Councillor (Conservative), who's interest is appreciated, Victor Lucas. You can contact Victor by email at:
Victor.Lucas@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Our District Councillor Terry Bell has been very enthusiastic for our aims, You can contact Terry by email at:
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Thomas, an enthusiastic supporter of URSG help Cambridgeshire County Council uncover a cover-up, in Ramsey!
Click on the photo to learn more.
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The mystery of the missing 30 mph signs in Little Raveley uncovered!
URSG turn detective to solve the mystery of the missing signs!
Click on the photo to learn more.
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RoSPA says "having young passengers in the car increases the likelihood of a crash for inexperienced drivers. Having one young passenger in the car makes an accident twice as likely, and having two or more young passengers makes a crash 5 times as likely. The accident rate to novice drivers drops by 30% after the first year of experience and by another 17% after the second year. Research into hazard perception clearly shows that inexperienced drivers can be up to 2 seconds slower in recognizing possible dangers compared with experienced drivers."
The American Drive and Stay alive organisation says "This is supported by Australian research which shows that not only do young drivers fail to respond to a crisis situation, they also frequently 'freeze' with fear and are unable to protect themselves. This is the exact opposite of the 'fast reactions' that we all mistakenly expect from youngsters".
This is one reason we cannot have people speeding through our village, people need time to react.
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Please check on this web site for news and progress.
Email URSG
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ABOUT US
We are all motoring enthusiasts, so this is not a 'green', 'anti car' or 'environmental' web site. We are also parents and all live in Upwood.
For example, we believe the present 70 mph limit on motorways such as the A1M at Sawtry, and the M6 Toll is far too slow. A good car with a competent driver is not a danger at speed on roads such as the M6 Toll.
We would like to see more policing of our roads to remove dangerous drivers, and reject speed cameras as they have failed to police our roads satisfactory. Though there is a place for them, mostly they are poorly placed. We ask, how can a speed camera in Huntingdon protect Upwood?
There is though a time when drivers need to slow down, this is why we have posted limits. There is no defence of exceeding a posted limit at any time. A car travelling at 60 mph makes nearly ten times the noise than the same vehicle travelling at 30 mph. Even in middle of the night, exceeding a posted limit will be anti-social, if not dangerous. At school time speeding near schools is so wrong and appalling, we'd like to see those who do so properly reprimanded and punished (banned with having to undertake another test before being allowed back on the roads).
Nine out of ten crashes are avoidable, proper driving skills would eliminate most crashes. Driving is a privilege, not a right where a bad driver can bring devastation into the lives of others. We recommend the following driving courses and clubs:
For further information on advanced (safer driving skills) visit;
For further information on local advanced driving groups visit;
All above offer free ongoing training using the Police (Roadcraft) system of driving, and optional test by an examiner who holds the police advanced drivers certificate (test to be paid for).
For those with plenty of money, there is no better club and driving course in the world than that offered by the High Performance Club. As they use the race track in addition to public roads, the full performance of even the most powerful cars can be explored to the full, with the best skills taught. Again, they use the Roadcraft system of driving, but exceed the requirements for RoSPA Gold. Doing the HPC course is pointless and a waste of money unless the applicant is already an experienced advanced driver, who can demonstrate consistently a high skill level.
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Interesting local links page:
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Thank you for visiting the URSG website, visitors so far - see the dragon
Please visit soon, the more hits we have the more we can reinforce the need for safe roads in Upwood and district. This web site is being updated two or three times each month, drop in and visit to see what is happening, soon.
U R S G - Upwood, road safety group