Yvonne Copland

“It is right and fair that I should make the observation that this is not, perhaps, the easiest of junctions. It is not the first time that a serious road traffic collision has taken place at this particular junction.”

“"Whitehouse Lane has high hedges and it does not afford a good view of the major road, although an approaching double-decker bus would probably have been visible to you. In addition to that the road may be somewhat deceptive when travelling along Whitehouse Lane in that a person who fails to observe the signage and the road markings could read the road as continuing straight across, which is the way in which you recall reading the road, and I accept that, coupled with your over reliance on the”

“In the aftermath of the crash, a petition was launched which gained nearly 7,000 signatures calling for the Isle of Wight Council to install traffic lights at the crossroads, in a bid to improve road safety and prevent further collisions.”

“Accident data from the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads show there is a 'high probability' of a crash occurring at that junction at least once every year, and it is 'likely' that between 25% and 50% of those accidents could kill or seriously injure someone.”

“In the last 5 years, I am informed that there have been 7 recorded collisions which have occurred at this junction - the one involving Mrs COPLAND was clearly one where a fatality occurred, and number of others were seriously injured in this incident. I also understand that there have been 3 other serious collisions at this location with 6 of those collisions involving vehicles exiting Whitehouse Road on to Forest Road.”

“Whilst I am aware that some measures have been taken by the Isle of Wight Council to reduce the likelihood of a collision in the future by realigning a hedge, I am concerned that this measure does not go far enough to make this junction significantly safer for all road users in the future.”