Normandy Residents Launch Safety Campaign to Curb Dangerous Drivers

Published on: 28 Oct, 2023
Updated on: 30 Oct, 2023

By David Reading

Residents of Normandy have banded together to demand action that will deal with the serious traffic dangers that they encounter on Westwood Lane – the scene of the tragic death of a motorcyclist on October 14.

Westwood Lane runs from the Hog’s Back to the A323 Guildford Road and although there is a 30mph speed limit in force in the built-up part, residents say that every day they witness vehicles travelling at a far greater speed.

The goal of the Reclaim Westwood Lane campaign is to persuade Surrey County Council to introduce effective traffic calming measures.

A search carried out by the organisers shows that from 2003 to 2023 there were 15 serious accidents on Westwood Lane including two fatalities. There were many more accidents described as “slight”.

Anecdotally, residents have recounted many stories of near misses and speeding through the residential part of the lane, from the Green Lane/Flexford crossroads to the railway bridge.

Campaigners Maureen Deacon and Rio Rossarne

Campaign spokesperson Rio Rossarne said: “People here have chosen to live in a mostly rural community and while we appreciate that there is a lot more traffic now on the road, there needs to be calming measures in place through the residential section.

“Unfortunately as motorists descend from the A31 on Wanborough Hill and Westwood Lane many are still driving at the speed they were travelling at on the A31. And with the mid and lower part of Westwood Lane being wide and somewhat straight, they race along it, without care that it’s a residential area.”

She said one man who lives next to the railway bridge has recounted multiple near misses when he tries to exit his driveway, to the point that he has installed a mirror opposite because of the dangers.

Rio said: “My office faces the road and all day long I see vehicles speeding, not doing anything close to the 30mph limit. My house literally shakes sometimes with the size and speed of vehicles travelling by.

“The residents are fed up with constant speeding and dangerous driving that we encounter every day when we step outside our homes.”

Many local people remember well the accident that resulted in the death of two horses in Westwood Lane in 2017. A woman was convicted of careless driving.

In the recent serious accident on October 14, the rider of the motorcycle, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. This happened at the upper end of Westwood Lane towards the Hog’s Back. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Map of the October 14 collision location in Wanborough, near Normandy. Apple Map

On social media, Normandy people have been sharing their recollections of accidents in Westwood Lane, including the following:

“Car through garden wall, Westwood Lane, Wanborough. Minor injuries.”

“Car into small tree, same location. No injuries. ”

“Two-car head-on collision, same location. Both drivers injured.”

“Car came down the hill and smashed my car (luckily no one in it).”

“Car crashed and rolled off into the farmer’s fields.”

Representatives of the Reclaim Westwood Lane campaign will be meeting Surrey county councillor Keith Witham (Con, Normandy/Worplesdon) in November to seek firm action.

Cllr Keith Witham.

Cllr Witham told The Guildford Dragon: “Any road accident that results in a fatality heightens concerns as the recent motorbike fatality in Wanborough has done. Fortunately, accidents that result in a fatality are few and far between, the last one in Westwood Lane being nearly 20 years ago in 2004.

“The police record all Road Traffic Accidents that involve personal injury and are attended by the emergency services. After each investigation they then categorise each incident as minor, serious, or fatal, and that information is then uploaded to a database that the Highways Authority has access to when it is considering any possible  future traffic calming measures.

“The residential stretch of Westwood Lane has recently had two Vehicle Activated Signs installed to make drivers more aware of the 30mph speed limit, and I will discuss with residents what other measures may be possible. We need to get a proper record of speeds in Westwood Lane, which I am discussing getting done by Surrey Highways  in conjunction with Normandy Parish Council.”

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