A REDUCED speed limit could be brought in on a crash-prone bend after conflicting road signs were blamed for a series of collisions.
Huddersfield Road, one of the main routes into Barnsley from junction 38 of the M1, has a 50mph speed limit but a blackspot on the route Birthwaite Hill has been discussed by the police and council in recent months.
The hill’s left-hand bend, before the road goes into Darton, has caught dozens of motorists out in recent years, leading to a number of crashes, some of which have been fatal.
According to Coun Linda Burgess, talks remain ongoing with the local authority’s highways department which is looking at reducing the limit on Birthwaite Hill and the removal of a current 50mph sign positioned just before the bend.
“It’s a ridiculous thing to have as that 50mph sign is the one that’s causing the issues. It’s placed yards after an electronic board which warns Darton-bound traffic about the left-hand bend, and tells them to slow down.
“Having a 50mph sign straight after catches people out the road is very busy and used by people who may not know about the bend and it’s these who are being caught out, time and time again.”
Although police have said they will carry out anti-speeding operations on the road, the hill does not lend itself to any hand-held camera devices and so the main stretch off the M1 is the only suitable location hundreds of yards away from the main area of concern.
It’s hoped the Birthwaite Hill section will be permanently reduced to 30mph, while the 50mph limit either side will remain.
“There’s no need to reduce the limit off Haigh roundabout as it’s straight, well-sighted and should be a 50mph road,” Coun Burgess added. “That part is fine but it’s the downhill section that needs to be changed as it’s totally confusing.”
