NEW PROPOSALS are looking to tackle one of Reading’s more accident-prone roads, improve safety, and reduce injuries.
Reading Borough Council has put forward changes which would help reduce accidents involving vehicles turning left across the bus lane on Kings Road.
The proposals follow a series of incidents on the main road which have happened both around pedestrian crossings and at left hand turns on the outbound bus lane.
The Council has also worked with Reading College to try to reduce pedestrian casualties at or near controlled crossings.
Police supply the Council with basic information about road traffic accidents they attend which includes the likely reasons the incident happened.
Where patterns emerge, the Council will look at any changes that could be made to help prevent future incidents.
Councillors say that the accidents there have been “evenly split” between people crossing at or near to controlled pedestrian crossings located outside Reading College and to the west of Cemetery Junction, and vehicles turning left across the outbound bus lane into Reading College, Kingsgate Street, and Rupert Street.
While the explained that finding solutions to pedestrian incidents is “challenging”, due to behavioural factors which are often involved, Reading College has worked with the Council to communicate messages around road safety for pedestrians and road users.
However not all of the casualties have been students.
As such, the council has also made some adjustments to nearby signs to improve sightlines and will continue to explore further options.
To address the left-turn incidents, the Council is proposing to break-up the eastbound bus lane at the three junctions to allow vehicles wanting to turn left to change lanes 20-30m ahead of the junctions.
This will allow drivers more time to look out for other vehicles and signal in advance of making the turn.
The proposed scheme has been independently Road Safety Audited and no concerns have been raised.
It is not considered likely that the new layout will negatively impact journey times for users of the bus lane, which includes buses, taxis, motorcyclists and cyclists.
Members of the Council’s Traffic Management Sub-Committee are due to consider the scheme at a meeting on Thursday 10 September.
If approved, the proposals will be subject to statutory consultation.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “The series of incidents along King’s Road has obviously been concerning. I and council officers have met with, and worked with Thames Valley Police and Reading College to explore ways further accidents could be prevented.
“While it is not possible to protect against every eventuality, the Council has developed proposals to help improve safety by allowing drivers more time and space ahead of making a left turn into one of the junctions.
“I would like to thank Reading College for their positive and constructive engagement in helping to reach out to regular users of the area, including pedestrians and road users.
“The Council takes safety on our roads extremely seriously and will continue to monitor King’s Road and explore any further potential measures that could be implemented.”
The agenda for the Traffic Management Sub-committee set for Thursday, September 10, is available to view via: democracy.reading.gov.uk
