Safety measures on the way after fatal crashes at same Staffordshire humpback bridge

The changes on the B5102 Cannock Road in Pillaton between Cannock and Penkridge follow collisions resulting in the deaths of driver Dafydd Craven-Jones, his passengers Morgan Jones and Sophie Bates in May last year, and the death of another driver Sajid Ali five months earlier.

After Mr Ali's death Staffordshire Police advised the county council to install more warning signs and road markings on the approaches to the bridge which straddles a former colliery railway line.  

Since the incidents larger bridge signs have been installed, but campaigners are calling for the speed limit on the 60mph carriageway to be lowered, for extra 'slow' markings to be painted and for reflectors to be fitted to the bridge as part of a raft of measures to improve safety.

In addition Penkridge Parish Council is due to install three electronic speed indicator devices in the area to warn motorists of speeds at a cost of around £12,500. The council has attracted a £9,500 grant from the West Midland Interchange (WMI) Community Fund and towards the scheme and will provide £3,000 from its own recreation and amenities highways liaison budget.

Penkridge North East ward representative Councillor Andy Adams said: "We have been asking the county council to take some action an improve safety along Cannock Road. They have now put in some bigger bridge signs to warn motorists of the hazard.

"More measures are needed. It wouldn't cost much to fit reflectors to the humpback bridge and while there are already 'slow' road markings on other parts of the B5102 more are needed near the bridge.

"There is a suggestion that on a one-mile stretch of the carriageway the speed limit goes from 60mph, down to 50mph, then 40mph then 30mph through Pillaton which needs to be addressed. 

"Coming from the Cannock direction along Pottal Pool Road to Pillaton there is a sweeping bend and at 40mph there is a risk of drivers ending up in the middle of the road and veering off to the opposite side. The speed limit needs to be reduced."

"We recognise that there is an issue  with speed on the road and we need to make motorists aware of the speed limit and warn them to slow down," Councillor Adams added.

Mr Ali, aged 50, was travelling in the direction of Cannock in a blue Toyota Avensis at around 7.45pm on January 14 last year when it was involved in a collision with a black Vauxhall Corsa.

Mr Craven-Jones, aged 18, was travelling in the direction of Penkridge on May 25 last year when his Ford Ka veered from the bridge and struck a tree. The driver who lived in Tanyfron; rear passenger Sophie Chloe Bates, aged 17, of Stafford; and front passenger Dafydd Morgan Jones, aged 17, known as Morgan, of Coedpoeth, Wrexham, died as a result. 

 At the latest inquest held earlier this month Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Assistant Coroner Miss Kelly Dixon said she would write to Staffordshire County Council's highways department about safety measures after hearing there had been two fatal crashes within five months at the same bridge.

The county's cabinet member for strategic highways Councillor Mark Deaville told the Express & Star: “We have received the coroner’s findings in relation to the tragic incidents on the B5102 Cannock Road.  

"We take these matters very seriously and are currently considering what changes could potentially be made to prevent such incidents taking place in the future.”