Fears over road named one of most dangerous in the country

The A643 turn off on the M621 at Elland Road, Leeds.

The A643, which begins just outside of Brighouse town centre, was the only road in Yorkshire to be included in the Road Safety Foundation’s list of 10 most persistently high risk roads.

Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox (Lab) said: “I want the government to explore precisely why this route is so high risk and what can be done to make it safer, in partnership with Highways England and the three local authorities in question.

“Much of this route is in Batley and Spen and it is fair to assume that large number of my constituents are using it every day. I want to know from ministers what they, and the Highways England will do to address what the Road Safety Foundation has highlighted.”

The A643 has been named as one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

Coun John Lawson (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said speed indicator cameras, which display how fast passing drivers are travelling, are installed on the Moorside stretch of the A643 for three month periods during a year.

He said: “They are good for normal drivers like you and me and they give a gentle reminder if your speed is too high but what they don’t do is enforce speed limits.

“They’re not that effective against irresponsible drivers who don’t care about any other cars on the road.

Coun Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said she was not aware the stretch of A643 was a blackspot for accidents but said she would look into the research to find out if a problem had been overlooked on the A643.

Mike Bristow, spokesman for the charity Brake, said: “These statistics highlight the fact that roads of all types can be dangerous for road users.

“Drivers have a responsibility on all roads to obey the law, to protect themselves and others around them.

“It’s clear that more needs to be done on a government level to bring in tougher sentencing for drivers who choose to flaunt the law and put people’s lives in dangers.

“We would urge the people of Batley and Spen to take extra care on the A643, along with the other roads right across the UK.

For more information log onto www.roadsafetyfoundation.org