THE family of a teenager who suffered terrible injuries when he was hit on a zebra crossing in West Swindon have welcomed measures to improve safety on the road – but would still like the speed limit dropped.
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet will discuss a report on making roads outside schools safer – and added to the report are specific suggestions for Hay Lane, near Lydiard Park.
Dylan Grother, then 14, suffered near fatal injuries when he was hit by a Ford C-Max while crossing the road in 2016. His mum Clarisse launched a campaign to get the limit lowered to 20mph, a speed hump across the road near the crossing and better signs.
Councillors are recommended to approve those measures, including replacing the ordinary Belisha beacons with LED ultra-bright lights – but the reduction of the speed limit to 20mph would only be advisory.
Clarisse said: “It’s good that something’s being done. It’s taken such a long time that it has felt like we’ve been banging our head against a wall, and I’m surprised it’s taken since the council meeting in September to get this far. But I hope by the time children go back to school in September the crossing will be safer.
“But It’s a shame the report seems to dismiss lowering the speed limit properly. That’s very important. The police said if my son had been hit by a car at 20mph he wouldn’t have broken his back – he wouldn’t have spent so long in hospital and missed so much school.
“So I’m pleased but still want the speed limit lowered.”
Dylan was hit by a car while using to crossing to catch a bus to Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.
He suffered a broken back, a broken foot and ankle and broken nose. It kept him off school for three months and he needed physiotherapy for years. It also cut short a promising rugby career and killed his dream of joining the RAF as a pilot.
Dylan and his family presented a petition signed by more than 800 people to the council last year asking for specific actions to prevent more such crashes, and it was added to the report after a full council meeting in September.
West Swindon Parish Council has allocated £1,000 of its budget to school road safety, and the report says this money could be used at the Hay Lane crossing.
The cabinet meeting starts at 6pm on Wednesday.
A link for members of the public to log-in to watch will be available at swindon.gov.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel