Amersham Road A355 speed limit cut

The Amersham Road A355 is one of the main roads between Amersham and Beaconsfield and M40, and is in heavy use throughout the year.

The A355 has been the scene of a number of tragic crashes over the years.

To make the road safer, the speed limit between Gore Hill and Whipass Hill has now been reduced from 60mph to 50mph.

This was granted following Buckinghamshire Council’s Speed Limit Order.

READ MORE: Porsche driver 'hit into me at 70mph' on A404 in High Wycombe

The Council’s reasons for the reduction in the order were to avoid “danger to persons or other traffic” using the Amersham Road A355 or any other road linking to it, making access to the busy read easier for drivers and pedestrians and preserving the amenities of the area overall.

Several other roads, driveways and footpath access for pedestrians connect to A355.

When facing north-south, the new speed limit starts by a footpath near the Water Tower on Gore Hill.

The road has claimed many lives, and some sentences have been handed out as a result.

In 2016, a speeding, inexperienced motorcyclists Babar Gull caused the death of teacher Ahmed Bafadhel by careless driving near Coleshill.

While delivering the suspended sentence, the sentencing judge Judge Andrew Bright QC said: “I hope it haunts you. It should haunt you."

When facing south and Beaconsfield on Whipass Hill, this is where the 50mph speed limit ends as it changes to 40mph.

Hugh Pirrie died at the scene of the crash after his Ford Mondeo was involved in a collision with another car travelling in the opposite direction in October 2015.

The driver of the other car was taken to hospital after she suffered serious leg and arm injuries.

On August 25, 2015, a horse rider Alison Kelly from Amersham was on her way to a bridesmaid dress fitting for her sister’s wedding, when her car began to swerve from side to side, eyewitnesses said.

Ms Kelly died after her car was in serious crash with two other vehicles near Coleshill.

In 2014, friends Daniel Horton and Aaron Savin lost their lives in a horror crash after the vehicle driven by Mr Horton lost control at 70-80mph on the road with a 60mph speed limit.

READ MORE: Beaconsfield relief road unveiled

Although a collision investigator Stephen Moffat told Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court neither of the seatbelts had been used, he was “sceptical the seatbelts would have been much use”.

Last year, campaigners called for a further speed limit reduction from 60mph to 40mph and 132 people signed a petition. 

Cllr Julia Burton said during a debate on the petition: "I don’t know it can possibly be policed if it’s brought down to 40mph but I think it would be a fantastic idea because coming down the hill from Beaconsfield, automatically the car speeds up, so they are not doing 50mph, they’re doing 60 or 65." 

Peter Martin, Buckinghamshire Council's Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "Due to concerns about possible accidents on this stretch of road, we've reduced the speed limit to 50 mph in line with Department for Transport guidelines.

"The speed limit reduction was introduced as part of a package of measures which included intelligent road studs to increase safety during the hours of darkness."

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