New Woodmere Avenue width restriction design may stop crashes

There have been countless collisions at the bollards in Woodmere Avenue in Watford - which gained widespread attention last year after a camera began capturing how the crashes are occurring.

The collisions, which date back more than a decade and have written off some vehicles, have been blamed on poor design as well as driver error, with Hertfordshire County Council admitting the situation is “not ideal”.

These controversial bollards are to be removed and replaced by new ones in a design until ANPR cameras are likely installed instead (Image: Newsquest)

The long-term aim is to take the bollards away and install ANPR cameras to deter prohibited vehicles using the residential street.

This is unlikely to happen until sometime in 2023- and Meriden & Tudor county councillor Stephen Cavinder and residents say they are not prepared to wait that long.

Read more: 'Urgent change' demanded after car gets stuck in width restriction

Read more: Width restriction goes viral - and becomes daily source for memes

Damage to a vehicle after colliding with the width restriction

The council agreed to draw up some short-term measures, which will be implemented from August 15 and are set to be completed by the end of the month.

Cllr Cavinder says the main changes include taking away the six bollards on each side and replacing them on both sides with four bollards with circular heads.

The width restriction will also be widened from seven foot to seven foot and six inches.

There has also been criticism about the bus lane which is not enforced with cameras and some car drivers pass though

Crucially, the new bollards with be placed a little further back from where the front two are currently placed and the bollards will also be placed six inches away from the kerb.

This will resolve the issue that some drivers face of approaching the restriction, from the direction of the A41, while travelling on a dropped kerb and smashing into the first left-hand post.

A dropped kerb aligning with the first bollard on the left - which videos show is the post most commonly hit - has been blamed by locals for some of the collisions

Read more: 2023 'far too long' to wait for crash-prone width restriction to be removed

Read more: Car window smashes after another dramatic crash at width restriction

Welcoming the planned changes, Cllr Cavinder said: “It’s a positive move and we are reacting to the concern from residents, who have continued to raise this matter with me.

“Time will tell but I am happy with this resolution. In my opinion, it would be extraordinary if people were still to collide with these bollards after they have been relocated because the changes will certainly help drivers navigate this much more easily.

“I do think the ANPR is the right way forward long-term but there is still a lot for the council to do on that one.”

A spokesperson for the county council said: “We all know the current situation is not ideal, and we have been engaging with residents, councillors and the local MP to discuss alternatives to the existing bollards.

"The alterations will see the kerbs upgraded and the bollards set back six inches from the kerb. One of the three sets of bollards will also be removed entirely.

“We hope this measure will help address local residents’ concerns while we develop and consult on a longer-term option to replace the physical width restriction with a camera-enforced weight restriction."

When the work to the width restriction is carried out between August 15 and 30, Woodmere Avenue will be closed. The work is coinciding with planned resurfacing work for the street.

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