Lancashire’s roads face scrutiny as speeding lorry drivers pose serious risks
Rossendale: The issue of reckless driving, especially by lorry drivers, is getting serious attention. Andy MacNae, the new Labour MP, raised this at Westminster. He held a special debate in the House of Commons to discuss road safety.
MacNae pointed out that our current road safety measures need a major rethink. Too often, we only react after accidents happen instead of taking steps to prevent them.
He highlighted two main concerns for his constituents: speeding and the behavior of large commercial vehicles. In Rossendale and Darwen, the roads are mostly A roads winding through valleys, leaving few alternative routes.
Living off Burnley Road in Bacup, he shared how residents face daily dangers. Speeding is a huge problem, and there have been serious injuries and even fatalities. People often have close calls, which creates a constant sense of fear.
One house on a bend has been hit by speeding cars three times. In one instance, a vehicle crashed where a pedestrian had just been standing moments before. MacNae also recounted a terrifying experience when a speeding car collided with his wife’s vehicle, lifting it onto his own in a 30 mph zone.
Burnley Road sees a lot of large commercial vehicles, and there have been many near misses with them too. Residents often see these trucks speeding or driving in groups, with drivers distracted by their phones.
This is especially concerning near the local primary school right on the main road. Last year, two big trucks crashed just outside the school. With narrow sidewalks and few safe crossing spots, it’s no wonder parents hesitate to let their kids walk to school.
MacNae could share stories from various roads in the area, like Todmorden Road and Market Street. Residents witness close calls daily but are often told that the statistics don’t justify action. Even when they do, the response is usually about a lack of funds, which seems ridiculous.
Older folks living in social housing along Newchurch Road feel stuck because there’s no safe way to cross the street. If we want to tackle this issue seriously, we need a proactive, community-focused approach.
Instead of waiting for enough accidents to happen, we should identify high-risk areas and take action. Junior transport minister Lilian Greenwood acknowledged the importance of these points and promised to work with officials to address them.
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