THE number of crashes on the A590 in south Cumbria and how many hospitalisations this led to has brought back the topic of road safety in Cumbria.

After a Freedom of Information request (FOI) was submitted to Cumbria Constabulary it was revealed that there have been 263 crashes on the road since 2018.

The year with the most crashes was 2019 which had 97.

 

CRASHES: Number of crash on the A590 recorded

CRASHES: Number of crash on the A590 recorded

 

According to police data, of all these crashes, only nine led to hospitalisations.

 

INJURED: Number of hospitalisations from A590 crashes

INJURED: Number of hospitalisations from A590 crashes

 

Concerns from both Barrow MP Simon Fell and South Lakes MP Tim Farron led to them meeting with National Highways to consider ways to increase safety back in August after two fatalities on the road in the same month.

A spokesman for National Highways said: “We don’t yet have the official verified figures for road traffic collisions along the A590 for 2020. However, the safety of road users is important to us and we routinely review the operation of our motorways and major A roads to ensure they are operating as safely and efficiently as possible as well as to identify opportunities for improvements. In fact, we are currently undertaking a series of routine operational and safety reviews along the A590 including between Meathop and Brettargh Holt and from Greenodd to Ayside. These studies will inform future investment in the route

“Every year we invest millions in the A590 and all our A roads and the M6 in Cumbria including specific safety and other construction projects and routine maintenance and repairs which can yield their own safety benefits. In the last two years alone, we have completed major resurfacing through Ulverston and a safety improvement at Newby Bridge. The re-construction of the A590 between the M6 and Brettargh Holt with new surfacing, refreshed road markings and road studs has provided smoother, safer carriageways and cut incidents at Brettargh Holt roundabout.

“The roundabout we are currently constructing at Cross-a-Moor just outside Ulverston will replace a staggered junction and make it safer and fairer for people to join the A590 as well as boosting opportunities for new jobs and housing in the area. Next year it is likely that we will deliver a series of safety improvements at Backbarrow.”

Haverthwaite councillor Sue Sanderson has been campaigning for safety restrictions on the stretch of the A590 going past Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway Station including speed cameras and reduced speed limit, which is not in the plans proposed by Highways England.

 

SAFETY: Cllr Sue Sanderson

SAFETY: Cllr Sue Sanderson

 

Police have also work with multiple agencies in order to help improve safety on the road.

Inspector Graham Hawley, of the Constabulary’s Mobile Support Group, said: “In south Cumbria, the Constabulary works in partnership with other agencies as part of the CRASH (Casualty Reduction and Safer Highways) group, which feeds into the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership.

“The Constabulary, together with partners from Cumbria County Council, local authority representatives, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, National Highways and other voluntary road safety organisations (for example the Institute of Advanced Motorists), discuss areas of concerns from either members of the public or from our own collision data.

“This is to see whether engineering, education or enforcement solutions are needed to deal with the issues identified.

“This is an ongoing process and something that is monitored and reviewed on a monthly basis.

“Other initiatives include the regular safety camera vans attending roads such as the A590 on a frequent basis.”