A353 in Weymouth is 'highest risk' A route in the south west

It comes as it is revealed that the number of people dying on Dorset's roads is on the rise.

According to a report released today by the Road Safety Foundation and Ageas UK, the A353 is the highest risk road in the region, having seen 12 fatal or serious crashes between 2013-15, 58 per cent of which involved motorcyclists.

The 9.2km stretch of road runs through Littlemoor, Preston, Osmington and Poxwell, up to the Warmwell Roundabout.

A number of safety measures have been introduced on the route – and Dorset County Council says it may chase more funding to do further work.

The Road Safety Foundation says road crash deaths must be moved towards zero, and that unless improvements are made, Dorset will fail to meet international targets to halve road deaths within a decade.

It made the call during Road Safety Week, which aims to inspire people to take action on road safety and promote life-saving messages.

The number of people killed on Dorset's roads has fluctuated over the last few years. From 28 killed in 2013, the figured dropped dramatically to 19 in 2014 but shot back up to 28 in 2015. There was another welcome drop in 2016 to 16.

However 2017 looks set to be a grim year for road casualties – police data for January to October reveals that 22 people have died on Dorset's roads.

Earlier this year, Dorset Police said they were committed to bringing a 40 per cent reduction to the number of people killed and seriously injured on Dorset's roads by 2020 under their Dorset Road Safe scheme.

Regarding the A353, Preston councillor Cllr James Farquharson said: "It has come as a surprise that it is the most dangerous road in the south west.

"It's worrying as it puts people in my ward at risk. I don't believe that drivers along that road are any more or less safe than other areas of the country, it's that we have not received the funding to improve road infrastructure."

Cllr Farquharson added: "I would call on Dorset County Council to have a hard look at that section of road and see what improvements can be put in place."

Cllr Nigel Bundy, district councillor for Broadmayne and Crossways, said: "Generally, I would say that road is quite dangerous.

"In places there are straight areas then there are some nasty bends. I would welcome any safety measures which would make roads safer for users. 

"Road users must also be responsible for taking into account road conditions and speed limits."

Mike Potter, Collision Reduction Team Manager for Dorset Highways at Dorset County Council, said: "It is of great concern that a route in Dorset has been identified as the highest risk A route in the south west region.

"The report by the Road Safety Foundation serves as a reminder of the responsibilities we have as road users to our own safety, that of our friends and family and those of others.

"I am meeting with the Research Director from Road Safety Foundation (RSF) in December to discuss the details of their studies and to investigate what considerations we may need to make over and above work already completed or planned for the A353 since the 2013/15 period analysed by RSF.

"Depending upon the outcome, a funding bid to the Department for Transport’s ‘Safer Roads Fund’ could be made. South west authorities have made recent bids after routes in their area were identified as the highest risk route in the region in previous Road Safety Foundation analysis."

Mr Potter said the council has completed major work on the A353 route at Chalbury Roundabout and DCC's Regulatory Committee has recommended that the speed limit on the A353 between Preston and Osmington be reduced.

He said Dorset Highways also wanted to work with the Co-Operative Group with regards to the parking situation at Preston Road store which has been identified as a "point of conflict".

Mr Potter said reducing the harm caused by road traffic collisions is one of the key priorities for the county council, which is a member of the Dorset Road Safe Partnership.