Devon commuter says 'someone will be killed' on 'treacherous' road

Residents are warning that 'someone will be killed' unless urgent steps are taken to slow cars at an accident blackspot near Newton Abbot. A notorious stretch of St Marychurch Road linking Milber to Torquay regularly sees motorists hitting speeds above 60mph.

According to a new petition, there have been 20 accidents on the road over the past 18 months, including a fatality. More than 100 people signed the online call for action within 24 hours of it going live.

Matt Redmond, who has started the petition, says there is a "deep sense of urgency" in the community. He fears a repeat of the fatality and says there have been three incidents involving drug drivers in the last week.

"I am outraged by the lack of action taken by the authorities to address this issue," he said. "This road is a danger to all who travel on it, yet nothing seems to be done to prevent further tragedies from occurring. The road is used by cars, vans, HGVs (despite there being a restriction) cyclists, pedestrians, horses and agricultural vehicles.

"This cannot be allowed to continue, and it is only a matter of time before another life is lost on this treacherous stretch of road. Who needs to die before action is taken?"

His petition calls for "an in-depth review of current safety measures" including stricter speed limits, improved street lighting, better signage, or even redesign of specific accident-prone areas.

He said: "I depend on this road for my daily commutes. The road safety or rather, the lack of it, directly impacts my life and that of my family. We deserve to travel without fear, without constantly worrying about the next accident."

He says Vision Zero speed camera have identified an issue further down the road in the 30mph zone. But he says there are more dangerous 60mph areas on the narrow lane that need attention.

He has asked Devon County Council, as the highways authority, to conduct a "thorough investigation" into the causes of the accidents, saying "this community deserves to feel safe on our roads".

He adds: "We understand that such changes may take time and resources, but the cost cannot be compared to the value of a human life. The changes we are demanding are not just necessary, but they are urgently needed to prevent more accidents and fatalities.

"We must ensure that the safety of all road users on St. Marychurch Road becomes a priority." You can find the petition here.

Photos show a number of recent incidents on the road which has long been used by traffic as a rat run. It was popular before the bypass was built but is still often used as a shortcut.

A Devon County Council spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the local Police Road Casualty Reduction Officer to review the collisions on this stretch of road.”

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