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North East's most dangerous road
Jul 1, 2008
ONE of the key routes through Teesdale has been named and shamed as the worst in the North East.
On ITV1’s Police Camera Action programme, the A688 between Barnard Castle and West Auckland was identified as having a risk rate of 82.80, the highest in the region.
The risk rates were calculated by the Road Safety Foundation by comparing the number of serious injuries against the volume of traffic.
Figures collated by the Road Safety Foundation showed there were 11 fatal or serious accidents in a three year period on the notorious road.
But council chiefs say work has taken place to make the road safer and speed limits across the entire length of the A68 are being reviewed.
In April, councillors agreed to reduce the speed limit on the A688 through Evenwood Gate, despite Durham police claiming at
the time “the reduction is not justified”.
And Barford Corner, between Stainton and Staindrop, where there has been a cluster of accidents, is the subject of an ‘Accident Investigation and Prevention’ scheme.
Dave Wafer, acting head of highway management for Durham County Council, said using EuroRAP criteria the A688 between West Auckland and Barnard Castle is a ‘medium risk’ road. He added: “Detailed analysis of accidents along the route reveals that driver error is the major cause.
“Allowance is not being made for the alignment and rural nature of the road, which has a higher than normal number of junctions when field access is taken into consideration.”
Mr Wafer said that in recent years, the road had been subject of remedial works which should reduce accidents.
He added: “As part of a Government instruction requiring highway authorities to review the speed limit on all A and B class roads for which they are responsible, we are currently reviewing the speed limit – in conjunction with the accident record – along the entire length of the A688 in the county.
“The route will also continue to be monitored, as are all roads in County Durham, as part of the ongoing road safety and casualty reduction programme.”