A41 Hemel Hempstead: Hundreds sign petition calling for safety measures

Taxi driver Mark Twyman, who runs Berko Black Cabs, says there has been "at least six serious road traffic accidents" on the A41 between Kings Langley and Berkhamsted this year.

He has called on Hertfordshire County Council to put in safety measures to prevent future crashes.

His e-petition to the council, which has been signed by more than 600 people, highlights the need for safety signs, for information on accident hotspots and for speed restrictions around junctions.

Mr Twyman, who lives in Berkhamsted, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he believes the A41 is "dangerous" and "badly designed" with concerns about road surface, dips and bends, and short slip roads.

He added motorists drive too fast – suggesting that since the lifting of lockdown restrictions it has become like "a racetrack", and suggested speed cameras may be needed.

The stretch of A41 causing concern for so many people. Credit: Google Maps

According to Crash Map, a tool which provides details of collisions based on data published by the Department for Transport, there were 17 serious collisions - including three fatal - on the A41 between Kings Langley and Wigginton, just north of Berkhamsted, between 2017 and 2021.

The map also shows there were around 50 "slight" collisions with clusters of crashes near Hemel Hempstead in particular.

Mr Twyman's petition has received enough signatures to be presented at a council cabinet meeting and if it is backed by more than 1,000 people, it can be put in front of a full council meeting.

The taxi driver says there are already plans for him to meet with the council’s executive member for highways and transport Cllr Phil Bibby.

Cllr Bibby told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I look forward to meeting Mr Twyman with my officers so that we can fully discuss his concerns and what measures might be appropriate."

Mr Twyman's petition runs until April 4. It can be found here.