Casualty on Isle's main link to the M180 every two weeks

Someone is injured on the Isle of Axholme's main link to the M180 every two weeks, figures obtained by the Bells have revealed.
The A161 between Low Street, Haxey and Blow Row, EpworthThe A161 between Low Street, Haxey and Blow Row, Epworth
The A161 between Low Street, Haxey and Blow Row, Epworth

The figures, from North Lincolnshire Council and Humberside Police, show that 141 people were hurt on the Isle of Axholme’s stretch of the A161 over the last five years.

It means there is an injury on the section of road the equivalent of around once every 13 days.

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But the number of casualties last year where at their lowest since 2011.

The figures come a week after it was revealed that North Lincolnshire has seen a fall in its number of casualties.

The A161 runs from Eastoft, in the North of the Isle, through Crowle, and then joins the M180 at junction two.

From there it heads south, where it takes passes through Belton, Epworth and Haxey.

The figures refer to this stretch of the road.

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Two of the injuries over that period have been fatal, both happening in 2012.

A total of 122 of the injuries were slight. But 17 were serious and two fatal. One of those who died was a cyclist, and the other was a driver.

Most of the injuries were suffered by people in cars, with 73 cases seeing the driver hurt, and 36 involving a car passenger. A total of 12 involved motorcycles.

Nine involved an occupant of a goods vehicle, six involved cyclists and five involved pedestrians.

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A number of safety measures have been taken along the road including sections seeing the speed limit cut from 60mph to 40mph.

North Lincolnshire Axholme North councillor Julie Reed said: “We obviously welcome that there has been a reduction. But any number of accidents is too many and we would like to reduce the number to zero.

“But obviously a lot of what happens on the roads is down to individuals and how they drive.There have been road safety improvements and we hope it has helped reduce the casualty figures.”

Epworth Town Council chairman Don Stewart said last week that he thought the move to reduce the speed limit on the A161 had contributed to the district-wide fall in injuries in North Lincolnshire.

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Coun Neil Poole, cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Speeding and inappropriate speed is one of the most important road safety issues. It is a priority to ensure that our roads in North Lincolnshire are safe for both drivers and pedestrians. The speed management strategy plays a major part in this.”