Time for a by-pass for UK's longest village...?

So, another tragedy on the A16 involving another student at Deepings School.

I'm sure everyone's thoughts are with the family of 18-year-old Katy Shields who's life, from all accounts, seemed so full of promise.

It would appear that Katie was driving her Corsa car at Hop Pole possibly intending to turn right when she was involved in a collision with a Grand Cherokee vehicle.

Of course, none of us know the full detail yet of what happened, so we are
not in a position to make judgements.

But we can all agree that problems of the straight fen-road through what is maybe the longest village in Britain need further attention.

Clearly, the length and nature of the road makes improving safety through engineering solutions challenging to say the least.

Personally, I have always believed that more serious consideration should have been given to the alternative option to the A1073 relief road.

The alternative would have have provided the added bonus of a 'free' bypass
for Deeping St Nic, hopefully taking away the fast moving through traffic -
but that option was rejected by the county council on cost grounds.

I beliieve the St Nic option would have required two bridges and from memory, the
projected cost - at the time - was a couple of million more than the Crowland option.

The irony is that the costs for the preferred option have virtually doubled
and the county council appears to be committed to what is now by far the
more expensive option (though the detailed engineering work on the Deeping
St Nic option was never completed, so we may never know).

Is it really too late for the county council to take another look?

I hope not.

Deepings School mourns driver Katie..

The 18-year-old Deepings school-girl who died in a collision yesterday has been named by police as Katy Shields.

Students and staff at Deepings School were in shock today at their sad loss and there has been a dialogue on the Deepings Exchange over the past 24 hours.

A news release from Lincolnshire Police earlier today confirmed the grim details of the accident:

At approximately 1.15pm yesterday (Thursday), emergency services were called to a collision on the A16, Main Road at Hop Pole.

The collision involved two vehicles, a white Vauxhall Corsa and a red Grand Cherokee.

The 18 year old female driver of the Corsa, believed to be from the local area was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle was a 50-year-old male from Surfleet who was taken to Peterborough District Hospital to be treated for non life threatening injuries.

The road was re-opened at approximately 7.10pm last night.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw either of the vehicles and their driving manner prior to the incident to come forward and contact the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855.

This is the 23rd fatal collision on Lincolnshire’s roads so far this year compared to 22 at the same time last year and a full year total in 2006 of 66 deaths.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855.

An inquest into Katy's death was opened and adjourned at Boston earlier today.

Is the A46 the worst killer road in Britain...?

Does Lincolnshire have the worst killer road in Britain? Channel Four thinks the A46 Lincoln to Grimsby road is certainly among the worst.

I didn't see the Cutting Edge programme on Monday evening, but it has provoked a lively debate.

Film-maker Jonathan Smith showed how a split second decision on the roads can "cast a shadow over a family far beyond the tragic accident..."

Dave Poucher of North East Lincs Council, told ITV's Calendar News that he hopes those who saw the effects of a fatal accident on families might make people drive more safely.

Over on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Paul Coathup, a senior officer from Lincolnshire County Council highlighted what he called the success of the local Road Safety Partnership over the past three years.

He says incidents on the A46 north of Lincolon have been reduced by about 60% with over £100,000 being invested in low-cost, high-value engineering works, targeted enforcement and a full education programe.

I believe the worst "killer road" in Lincolnshire used to be the same A46 south of Lincoln.

But (fingers crossed), the road has become much safer since it was dualled (thanks to the Labour Government!) from the A1 at Newark to Lincoln - a major road building project which has put our county capital on the map and led to economic growth in the city.

But of course, roads are not killers - bad drivers are.

Unlucky for some: young driver is 13th to die this year

The thirteenth person to die this year on Lincolnshire roads was a driver of just 17-years-old.