Action call repeated after another crash on road

From the archive, first published Saturday 17th Mar 2007.

A restaurant owner who had his fence destroyed by a car crash is urging for action to be taken on a Bradford road.

Aldo Devittoris, who owns Ital Restaurant on Bolton Road, Bradford, wants the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership to make more progress with their plans to improve what he calls a deathtrap' section of the road.

A blue Vauxhall Astra crashed into the fence outside his restaurant earlier this month causing extensive damage.

Aldo Devittoris said the first thing he heard about the crash was when he arrived at 8am and found six metres of fence panelling had been destroyed.

In the rubble on the floor he also found a number plate.

Last September Mr Devittoris was involved in the T&A's Be Safe Not Sorry campaign, when it was announced that electronic road signs which flash warnings to drivers when they are going too fast were to be installed on Bolton Road, Undercliffe.

Mr Devittoris said since then nothing has happened and now there has been another accident.

The West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership programme is in the process of installing vehicle-activated warning signs, which will be placed on the approaches to a bend in the road.

He said: "People speed down this road. There is supposed to be a speed limit of 30 miles per hour, but I've seen people going at 80, 90 or even 100mph. Nothing ever gets done, unless we get more deaths."

Christian Devittoris, Aldo's brother, said: "How many people have got to die before something gets done about this dangerous road?"

Councillor Howard Middleton (Bolton and Undercliffe, Lib Dem) said: "On that piece of road we have had three fatal accidents.

And although there are some plans to do something about the problems, we need to get moving on them."

Philip Gwynne, of the Bradford-based West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, said: "It is appreciated that residents and trades people who are impacted by any collision want to see immediate action.

"But it doesn't work that fast, if only it did. Frustrating as it is for individuals, things take time. It is being looked into and action will be taken."

Mr Gwynne said first a site survey has to be carried out to determine what has been happening there and what has been causing the accidents. The area is then analysed to see what is the best solution.

Mr Gwynne said all accidents are looked at to see if a pattern is emerging.

He said: "At anyone time the Highways Authority will be looking at hundreds of different areas and so we have to take into account budget and priority."

A police spokesman confirmed that a car crashed into the fence at 3am on Sunday, March 4. She said there was extensive damage to the vehicle but no-one was injured. The driver was later arrested for being over the alcohol limit.

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