Reminders of dead

In a fight against the growing number of people being killed, traffic police, ambulance services, the fire brigade and road chiefs are meeting to discuss introducing grim reminders at death crash sites.

If the proposal gets the go-ahead the four foot high black silhouettes, with a bolt of red lightening through the head, would be placed beside the road as a warning to drivers.

Traffic police are looking into the possibility of using the silhouettes, pioneered throughout France, on the A36 in Wiltshire.

But they could also be introduced on priority safety roads including the A4, the A312 between Calne and Lyneham and the B4042 from Wootton Bassett.

Road experts hope the silhouettes would encourage drivers to put safety first and drive down the death toll.

Divisional traffic manager Inspector Cavan Moroney first saw the silhouettes in France.

He said: "It is an idea being spoken about between ourselves, the Highways Agency, the Fire Brigade and Ambulance services who spend an awful lot of time dealing with collisions on the roads. Most of the recent collisions are not speed related, in most cases they are driver error.

"While on holiday in southern France I took a photo of one of the silhouettes, they have the worst accident record in Europe over there, and I thought it was a great idea.

"Everywhere you go there is a black silhouette with a red bolt of lightening through the head of an adult or child.

"You can actually see who has died and where. It acts as a stark reminder to drivers.

"It's a good idea in France but we will have to wait and see if the Highways Agency or Wiltshire County Council are able to put these things on the roads."

Before the silhouettes can be introduced families would be consulted and the Highways Agency would carry out an investigation to make sure the black reminders do not distract drivers.

There have been a number of crashes on the A4 over the past two years. Geoffrey Smith, 60, was killed on the road in September 2003 and 19-year-old Micheal Hayward, from Calne, died at Derry Hill in 2002.

Inspector Moroney said: "The silhouettes may well be a distraction to drivers. We have even had complaints from people that floral tributes to crash victims have been a distraction.

"Some families ask to build stone memorials by the side of the road but this hasn't been possible. We would have to consult with the families to see if they think the silhouettes are a worthy tribute to the dead.

"But every time we have asked the families if the press can photograph the wreckage of the vehicles they have agreed.

"These silhouettes will now be discussed with all our statutory partners."

Kevin Bolan, statistical analyst at Wiltshire and Swindon Camera Safety Partnership, said: "While we don't know the effectiveness of these silhouettes, anything that brings to the attention of a driver a dangerous spot on the road cannot be a bad thing."

The Highways Agency is aware of the upcoming meeting between the emergency services but has said any decision should take place at national level.

A spokesman said: "It's not been used in the UK before and this means they would have to go through rigorous tests. We can't just put something up next to the road."

Wiltshire County Council has said it consistently reviews roads after traffic accidents in a bid to cut down the number of deaths.

Mayor of Chippenham town council and road safety campaigner, Desna Allen, said: "It sounds a good idea like the flashing speed limit signs we have, but I wonder if they would prove to be a distraction.

"Rural roads in Wiltshire are at risk and people want to go too fast on roads not fit for high speeds. Anything that stops these accidents will be a good thing."