Safety improvements considered at Whisby crossroads where there’s been ‘more than enough accidents’

Residents have said a speed limit reduction would improve an ‘horrendous’ accident blackspot near Lincoln. The limit on all four approaches to the staggered crossroads between Whisby and Doddington could be dropped from 50mph to 40mph.

There have been four serious accidents in the last five years, and a car flipped onto its roof in a 2018 crash. Whisby Road, Eagle Road, Doddington Road and Thorpe Road all meet at the busy junction.

Lincolnshire County Council will discuss next week whether to slow traffic approaching the staggered crossroads to improve safety. People living immediately around it, who have seen plenty of accidents, have welcomed the plans.

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Trevor and Carol Robbins, who have lived there 30 years, said: “There's been more than enough accidents. Sometimes we'll hear a great big bang and think ‘Not again’.

“One man nearly got killed crossing the road earlier this year while walking his dog. I’m surprised someone hasn't been killed. Fortunately no young children live nearby.

“The road's use as a rat run has definitely increased over the years. We have a problem with HGVs coming this way to avoid the bypass, even though there’s a seven and a half tonne limit. 40mph will be a lot better - some people treat the 50mph like 70 or 80 at the moment.”

Philip Peck said: “There's been a lot of accidents there over the years. I completely avoid it on Friday afternoons and do a detour through Doddington. There seems to be more aggressive driving now with people thinking ‘I was here first, it's my turn.’

“As a cyclist, I wouldn't go anywhere near it. If a speed reduction doesn’t work, perhaps they need to break up the straight road from the bypass to Eagle - if there’s a roundabout, at least people will have to slow down.”

Molly Underwood said: “It's horrendous at rush hour - the rest of the time it's not too bad. Cars come down really fast, it definitely needs to be lower. 40mph would be much, much better.

“At rush hour, you've got no chance of getting across the road. An elderly man in the village was hit as he crossed the roads a couple of years ago going to the post box.”

A woman who lives near the crossroads said: “At one point, there seemed to be a crash every Saturday. Traffic comes steaming down that road at 70mph. It should have been 30 or 40 a long time ago.”

Lincolnshire County Council’s planning committee will discuss the proposed changes on Monday, December 2.