A crash in Dane Valley Road at the weekend which seriously injured two men has prompted calls for traffic safety measures to be installed.
The men were travelling in a car which crashed into a tree on Saturday night. Both were taken to a London hospital with serious injuries.
The Dane Valley Residents Association has now launched a petition asking for the road to be made into a 20mph zone and to have chicanes – a raised curb and bollard in one half of the road, with a sign to explain the vehicle traffic priority – added.
Jack Packman, from the residents association, said: “Residents who live on the Dane Valley Road and surrounding areas are now seriously worried about their safety, their families safety and that of the community.
“Over the last few years four serious incidents have happened in Dane Valley Road with two in the last three weeks, resulting in near fatalities and serious injuries.
“It is traumatic for those who live on this road to keep experiencing these incidents as well as having their own cars written off. The current traffic calming measures do not work. The speed bumps are not fit for purpose.
“The Dane Valley Residents Association is campaigning for a 20mph speed limit which the petition is for and we will be campaigning for Chicanes to be installed.
“We will be launching a speed watch project in March with recruitment of volunteers starting in February.
“ I have a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Area Commander and Chief Inspector of Kent Police on January 14 to address these types of issues in Dane Valley.”
Margate county councillor Barry Lewis is backing the petition and taking the request for the 20mph zone and chicanes to Kent County Council.
He said: “I have reiterated my demand for traffic calming measures on Dane Valley Road, one of the most dangerous roads in Kent.
“I’ve asked for a 20mph speed limit and chicanes, both of which we have in other areas of Thanet. The present traffic calming measures in that road are inadequate.”
So far 167 people have signed the petition.
One of those who have signed is Hannah Barrs, who says: “I run a children’s group in Dane Valley and fear that another serous accident will happen. People use Dane Valley road as a race track.”
