RESIDENTS are calling for changes to a Weymouth roundabout ‘before somebody gets killed.’ Drivers who live on the Whitehead Estate in Wyke Regis must use the roundabout close to Ferrybridge to get out on to Portland Road but claim they are putting themselves in danger each time they venture out as other motorists fail to slow down or give way to them.

From the 102 houses on the estate 76 residents have signed a petition set up by neighbour Tony Palmer in his bid to install traffic calming measures.

The roundabout has been in place for years and residents believe action taken by the local authority in the past to alleviate problems – including monitoring of traffic and a warning sign – has been insufficient.

With more traffic expected in the area in the run-up to the Olympics they believe now is time for action.

Mr Palmer, aged 63, of Smallmouth Close, fears a serious accident is inevitable. He said: “It’s a very dangerous roundabout and it amazes me that no-one’s been killed. It’s an accident waiting to happen and someone is going to get killed if nothing is done.”

Mr Palmer said drivers have been suffering ‘frightening’ moments when they have a gap on their right and they have the chance to pull out onto the roundabout. He said lorries sometimes approach too fast for other drivers to pull out despite having the right of way. He said: “You can’t go out of here without seeing a car flying across the roundabout. A lot of them are not attempting to slow down and are not acknowledging that there’s a roundabout here. People coming from the direction of Portland are not giving way to their right.”

Mr Palmer said many drivers are surprised to see them pull out and some of his neighbours have been subjected to road rage threats. He said: “I’ve had people saying they’ve been chased up the road and a chap was threatening them.”

Mr Palmer said one neighbour witnessed ‘boy racers’ going in the same direction down Portland Road but with the two cars going across the roundabout on opposite sides.

He said he has asked council bosses to change the roundabout and wants them to consider replacing it with traffic lights, putting ‘zig zagged speed ripple lines’ in place or a pedestrian crossing on the Wyke Regis side on Portland Road to slow the traffic down.

Mr Palmer added: “I’ve had many near misses and a lot of the old people here are terrified. If I have an accident I’m going to sue the local authority for any damages to myself or parties with me and damages to my vehicle.”

• Dorset County Council has responsibility for highway matters.

A spokesman for the council said: “We have received the petition, which is the first time we have been made aware this matter.

“We will investigate the residents’ concerns and let them know what action, if any, can be taken.”