PRESSURE to cut the speed limit along a stretch of road where a 23-year-old woman died in a late-night horror smash is mounting as local residents fear more deadly incidents.
Jagdeep Kandola of Chalfont St Peter is leading calls to bring down the rate at which vehicles travel along the A413, between The Greyhound Inn (Joiners Lane Roundabout) and the roundabout junction with Kingsway.
He and nearly 600 petitioners fear an increase in traffic in recent years has resulted in ‘more and more’ serious incidents, not least the death of Simran “Simi” Johal, one of five people in a blue Volkswagen Golf which mounted a roundabout and rolled onto its roof on October 10.
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Early reports indicated the car was being driven south on the A413 Amersham Road, before losing control.
Ms Johal, who was from Slough, was pronounced dead at the scene, while three other passengers were admitted to hospital.
Her mother, Anita, said in a tribute: “The world will be a much sadder place without her unique wit and charm.”
The petitioners want to bring down the speed limit along that section of road from 70mph, to ‘40 or even 50mph’.
“Drivers use these two roundabouts as if they are just a chicane in the middle of the dual carriageway,” said one supporter.
“It goes from 70mph to 30mph incredibly,” they added.
Residents in Denham, Harefield and Mill End are also ‘very worried’ about an increase in HGVs servicing HS2, they said.
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Chalfont St Peter Parish Council and Gerrards Cross Town Council are also being approached to support the speed reduction measures, following a recent local Neighbourhood Action Group meeting.
Mr Kandola and his petitioners are seeking to persuade Buckinghamshire Council this is “a necessary change to improve the safety of this road”.
“There is a strong need for Thames Valley Police to support the speed reduction too,” said a supporter.
“There has been support from drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and residents,” said Mr Kandola.
“It is clear the stretch of road is used as a regular crossing point for commuters, schoolchildren and the local community – and lots of residents feel very unsafe.
“Equally, [road users] feel they are taking their life into their own hands, especially when they are going against the flow of the A413 traffic at the Kingsway and Greyhound roundabouts.”
For more details about the petition, click here
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