A NUMBER of options to improve safety on Thamesdown Drive are being considered following a meeting last week.

Last month, Paul Winters was killed on the North Swindon road and the tragic crash has led to calls from local residents for action to be taken.

A meeting was held on Wednesday between the police, members of the council’s highways team and local councillors to discuss possible ideas.

While nothing at this stage is set in stone, the meeting was described as a positive step forward.

Councillor Oliver Donachie (Con, Haydon Wick), said: “The meeting allowed us to look at statistics on the number of accidents which have occurred over the last three years.

“What they showed was that in terms of the amount of traffic the road is in fact very safe, especially when compared with others.

“However, there is a public perception that the road is not safe so it is important that we do something to address those concerns as it is simply not enough to point at figures and say everything is alright.”

One of the major issues highlighted by residents, both online and at a recent locality meeting, was the tendency of drivers to jump red lights.

The council last week announced it was planning to install a SCOOT system in the lights which detects the amount of traffic and then adjusts the red lights so people do not end up catching all the red lights in one journey.

The possibility of also installing other systems was discussed at the meeting.

Coun Donachie said: “Alongside SCOOT we could also have a traffic amelioration system which means the lights judge how fast cars are going.

“If they are travelling too fast then it will adjust the light system to try and encourage them to slow down in the safest way possible.

“At this stage absolutely nothing is set in stone and these were only initial ideas for us to consider but the possibility of putting in CCTV was looked at.

“There are a number of issues around this but it is something I would welcome as it would give a chance to bring prosecutions against those breaking the law.”

Whatever the outcome, Coun Donachie says that the vast majority of accidents are down to bad drivers.

“The police have been out on the road looking for offenders but it is simply not possible or practical for them to be there 24/7,” he said.

“It is down to the responsibility of drivers to take care when on the roads.”