DRIVERS are being urged to improve safety on the roads after a week of carnage left five dead in a spate of accidents.

The tragic events began on Friday when three died in a crash near Bowerhill and two more were killed in a head-on collision on the A36 on Monday.

Traffic was also brought to a standstill on the streets of Bradford and Westbury after minor accidents.

Police have now reaffirmed their support to the Wiltshire Times Drive Down The Death Toll campaign.

Sgt Dave Melvin, force road safety officer, said: "The tragic events of last weekend serve as an illustration of how dangerous the roads can be.

"There is an absolute need for everybody to concentrate carefully at all times of the driving task and not be distracted by what is going on around them. The police are always keen to support new road safety initiatives where evidence suggests that casualty savings can be made.

"But one must not forget individual drivers and riders must take personal responsibility for their own actions, their own safety and the safety of others."

In Westbury 80 homes were left without power on Tuesday morning after a car crashed into an electricity pylon at around 7am. Police closed Eden Vale Road for three hours after the driver lost control and hit a wooden electricity pole snapping it in half.

Power was restored to all the affected homes by 2pm.

WPC Denise Nix, of Westbury police, said: "The driver either lost control or something happened in front of her. The trouble is these lamp posts are right on the side of the road and there is no room for error."

There was another crash in Westbury on the A350 near the Lafarge Cement turning during Tuesday morning's rush hour.

Traffic also came to a standstill in Bradford on Monday after a head-on collision at the junction with Bath Road and the B3105.

A white Ford Escort estate collided with a green Citron Saxo at around 5.30pm. No-one was injured.

A serious road accident led to the closure of the Semington bypass on Thursday morning, less than a week after the road was opened to traffic.

At the time of going to press police confirmed two people, believed to be a Melksham father and son, were injured in the two-vehicle crash, which happened at about 11am.

The pair were taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath after the red Volvo in which they were travelling collided with an orange Toyota truck. Their injuries were believed to be serious but not life threatening.