BRAKES are being put on the dangerous 70mph approach to Newton Abbot over the Teign Bridge to stop a rush of crashes.

Safety-first councillors have agreed plans to extend the 50mph limit on the southbound carriageway some 500m back towards Exeter from Penn Inn.

They hope it will reduce the number of accidents caused by motorist suddenly changing lanes on the approach to the flyover and the Newton Abbot turn-off as well as speedsters caught on the hop by queues ahead of them.

Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee agreed the measures at their meeting yesterday (thurs).

Cllr Gordon Hook, county councillor for Newton Abbot South, welcomed the proposal which he felt might cut tally of bumps and shunts.

A survey revealed that three of the six collisions on the southbound approach to Penn Inn had either involved late or sudden manoeuvres from the nearside lane to the offside - or rear-end shunts by sudden braking by drivers failing to react in time to traffic queues.

Cllr Hook also urged the installation of extra signage on both sides of the A380 river crossing indicating the need for motorists to get into the correct lane as soon as possible.

‘A number of motorists find themselves in the wrong lane and, as the light dawns, they make a rapid lane switch which often causes problems resulting in further ‘bumps and shunts,’ he said.

This was as important as the speeding problem, he believed.

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst reckoned the 50mph limit extension should be extended ‘a lot further.’

‘I use that section of road almost every day and the problems all start at the Teignmouth/Kingsteignton turn-off, but this is better than nothing so I am thankful for it,’ he said.

He felt the road signage was ‘hugely confusing’ with motorists frequently changing lanes.

‘They don’t know what lane to be in, and the signs are hidden away in the hedge,’ he complained,

Cllr Rosalind Prowse agreed that the signage was not big enough or good enough.

‘I am amazed there are not more accidents when people realise they are in the wrong lane,’ she told the committee.

Chairman Cllr Jerry Brook observed: ‘This, as well as the average speed cameras, will make a huge amount of difference to the road. We will all be bitterly disappointed if it doesn’t.’

Members heard the sign adjustments would cost £8,000, to be funded from the capital allocation for the South Devon Link Road.

The proposal to move the 50mph boundary will not affect the introduction of average speed cameras which are due to be installed over the New Year.

Councillors unanimously voted to advertise the Traffic Regulation Order that would see the speed limit switched