'Most dangerous junction in UK' has seen 13 crashes in just six weeks
CCTV footage shows a series of dramatic car crashes at site dubbed the 'UK's most dangerous junction,' which has seen 13 accidents in the past six weeks alone.
Crashes at the junction, which is along the A521 in Cheadle, Stafforshire, have caused nearly £200,000 of damage as cars have collided with lorries and flipped into the air.
Locals are said to blame misleading signs and faded road markings for the accidents, and while thankfully nobody has been killed, they believe it's only a matter of time.
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Extraordinary footage from a home security system shows the moment a car failed to spot the give way road markings, sped over the lines and was smashed into by a lorry, while another shows a car being clipped by another car, leading to it rolling across the pavement.
The most recent accident happened just last Thursday (17 October) when a car and a van collided at the junction connecting to Draycott Cross Road.
Now, residents in the area are pushing the local council to make improvements to the junction to prevent further incidents.
Conor Bernard Devine, landlord at nearby pub The Huntsman, says: "You hear a big bang, you come running out and there’s a car on its roof again.
"It’s a question of time before someone gets killed out there."
The 55-year-old has been keeping a tally of the days between incidents at the junction, adding: "We’re on a four day streak at the moment. We’ve been here 15 years, it’s always been bad for the accidents.
"For whatever reason it’s getting worse. I don’t know if it’s the road markings or not.
"Three have been very serious then there’s been a couple of little fender benders. There’s also an Aldi supermarket being built which is going to bring more traffic to the town."
Meanwhile, independent councillor Gary Bentley, whose Ring doorbell captured multiple crashes on camera, adds: "It’s a busy junction. We think it could be Britain's most dangerous - it has been in the last few weeks.
"We reckon we’ve had about 13 crashes since August. My dad is 84 and he wanders up that road all day long. That’s what my concern is.
"It’s been going on for years, but it seems to have gotten worse this year.
"We ideally want a set of traffic lights. We had another set of crossroads that caused a death, but 18 months ago they got traffic lights.
"That’s what I’m pushing for."
According to Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic highways at Staffordshire County Council, the increasing number of crashes at the junction are currently being investigated.
He says: "Once we have all the information, we will look to see if any action is required at the location.
"Keeping our roads safe remains our priority and we do listen to residents and work with local communities if they have concerns about road safety in their area."
Bec Oakes