National Highways is joining forces with its police partners to help improve safety by introducing new speed restrictions along the A46 near Bath.
Working with Avon and Somerset Police, South Gloucestershire Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council, the company has identified safety issues on the A46 between Bath and M4 junction 18.
Collision data between 2017 and 2021 identified a total of 41 incidents, resulting in 79 casualties, two of which were fatalities. Following further monitoring and surveys, National Highways is taking action to reduce speed limits along a number of sections.
The speed reduction scheme, financed through the company’s designated Safety and Congestion Fund, will see the speed limit:
- Reduced to 50mph south of M4 J18 to Pennsylvania Village
- Reduced to 30mph through Pennsylvania Village
- Reduced to 40mph south of Pennsylvania to Upper Swainswick, where it returns to 50mph.A speed reduction order has been initiated and the installation of new signage will take place in the coming weeks, with resurfacing and road marking work taking place later in the year.
Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “We welcome National Highways’ efforts to improve driver safety on the A46 and their use of data to identify the riskiest stretches of road in the area.
“Inappropriate and excess speed, and not abiding by speed limits, is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that most commonly contribute to fatal and serious injury collisions.
“In 2023 and 2024 combined, we attended 872 fatal and serious injury collisions on Avon and Somerset roads. Speed-related factors were identified in 436 of them, so 50 per cent.
“The speed limits we put in place are therefore not optional; they are there to keep our roads safe for motorists and pedestrians alike. Even one life lost on our roads through excess speed is one life too many, and it is completely avoidable. We will continue to target road users who do not adhere to these necessary safety measures.”
