Speed reduction plans for Black Country road where man killed after being hit by lorry
A busy dual carriageway where a man died after being hit by a lorry will have its speed limit cut to 30mph in the wake of calls to make the road safer.
Crashes, speeding traffic and the number of schools, parks and homes nearby are among the factors behind the plan for Thorns Road in Quarry Bank.
The reduction from 40mph to 30mph will cover the whole of Thorns Road, as well as parts of Pedmore Road in Lye and Merry Hill to cover a 1.5mile stretch from Lye to Brierley Hill.
Thorns Primary School, Stevens Park, Lye Railway Station are all situated along the road, which was also where 26-year-old Sartaj Aziz was hit by a lorry in August last year. He died at the scene.
Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for transport, said: "There have been calls from people and businesses living along the road for a long time to make it safer - we have looked at the issues and considered a reduction in speed limit is the best option.
"It is a dual carriageway, but there are lots of people crossing the road and many schools, pubs and parks along it. There was also the accident where the man was knocked down by the lorry last year.
"I believe it is important we encourage traffic to slow down and improve the safety for people."
Council officers carried out a speed survey ahead which showed 85 per cent of motorists were travelling within the 40mph speed limit. The average speed of traffic was 34.5mph.
In a report attached to the proposal, officers said the average speed recorded showed a new 30mph speed limit could be 'realistically considered' in both directions.
The plan has also been devised alongside the council's Safer Routes to School Scheme. As part of the project, the council received complaints from parents about the speed along the road.
Councillor Ahmed added: "We want to encourage parents to take their school in the morning safely."
The decision, due to be signed off by highways bosses next week, has been welcomed by mother-of-two Jo Messinger.
Last month she called for improvements to the crossing junction at Thorns Road and Quarry Bank High Street.
The 41-year-old claimed she had almost been hit by a van with her two sons Adam, eight, and Zach, six, at the crossing in February.
She said: "Although this does not relate directly to the crossing, it can only be a good thing if they decide to slow down traffic through the area."
