NEAR MISSES and crashes at an East Reading crossroads has led to neighbours calling for road safety measures to be implemented.
Crescent Road is used by drivers and cyclists to get to Wokingham Road, St Bartholomew’s Road and the A4 London Road. Residents say a high brick wall of a neighbouring home causes a blind spot at its junction with Hamilton Road.
They have petitioned Reading Borough Council to make the crossroads safer, pointing out 23 incidents involving cyclists and drivers.
In one case, a cyclist was hit by a driver causing bruising to one of their legs, and leaving them in shock.
They said: “I was cycling down Hamilton Road and a car drove into the side of me as I crossed the junction with Crescent Road. The driver had been stationary but claimed he hadn’t seen me.”
The crash happened at around 8am on Thursday, October 13, last year, and was reported to the council and the police.
In another case, a driver claimed a cyclist went across the crossroads without looking for traffic.
The driver said: “She [the cyclist] certainly didn’t have time to react to that traffic which would have collided with her.
“I am very wary of this junction, definitely a serious accident waiting to happen.”
That incident occurred at around 3pm on December 8 last year.
Neighbours suggestions for improvements include a mini roundabout, reconfiguring the road by adding bollards, or installing a speed camera to enforce the 20mph limit.
A number of neighbours acknowledged difficulties with reconfiguring the junction due to a high brick wall and a protected cedar tree causing blind spots for drivers.
A list of 26 comments and ideas to improve road safety at the junction was submitted to the council on March 2.
In a report, an engineer working for the council recommended the suggestions be shared with Cllr John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), the lead councillor for transport, as well as Park ward councillors for discussion.
The outcome of these discussions will then be reported in a council meeting.
The engineer added that there is currently no allocated funding for the development and delivery of physical changes to the junction, but acknowledged that there is a desire to reduce risks.
The petition and Mr Chen’s recommendation will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s traffic management sub-committee on Wednesday, June 14.
