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Oxford road safety concerns 'alert van insurance policyholders'

12/04/07

Van insurance customers may need to take care when driving through Oxford for the foreseeable future after road safety concerns were expressed by local councillors.

Since opening a fortnight ago, supermarket chain Lidl has been serving local consumers across Cowley, Oxford - despite the fact there is no pedestrian crossing in place, reports the Oxford Times.

Oxfordshire County Council has explained that the construction of a new pedestrian crossing, in addition to enhanced footpaths and cycle paths, is set to begin in May 2007 and should be completed eight weeks later.

However, local councillors warned that the road works may need to be brought forward to minimise the potential road safety impact, van insurance policyholders may be interested to know.

"Before long, children are going to go there to get sweets and it's not going to be long before we have a major accident on this road," stated Lye Valley's city councillor Bob Timbs.

"We have got to take some steps to protect people crossing that road," added Val Smith, Leys and Lye county councillor.

"I am delighted that the county council will do the work but it would be better if they could bring it forward."

In other road safety news, a media campaign was recently launched to promote the issue of road safety to car and van insurance customers in the north-west.

The Wasted Lives public awareness drive from the Lancashire Telegraph, which has been endorsed by leader of the House of Commons Jacks Straw, aims to put pressure on the government to improve educative facilities for people who have recently finished learning to drive a car.