Speed limit on fatal crash road could be lowered

North Yorkshire Council is seeking people's views on cutting the speed limit on part of the A61

The speed limit on a road which was the scene of a crash in which three members of a family died in 2023 could be cut, councillors in North Yorkshire have said.

Daria Bartienieva, 35, Ihor Bartieniev, six, and Anastasiia Bartienieva, 15 - all Ukrainian refugees living in Ripon - died in a collision on the A61 in South Stainley in September.

North Yorkshire Council has since sought people's views on reducing the speed limit on the Ripon to Ripley roundabout stretch of the road from 60mph (96km/h ) to 50mph (80km/h).

Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport, said the proposed reduction, which could be in place by spring 2025, "better reflected the road conditions".

Several collisions have occurred on the key route between Ripon and Harrogate, with cars often performing dangerous manoeuvres to overtake slow-moving vehicles like tractors.

Three people died in a collision on the A61 Ripon Road on 3 September last year

Mr Duncan said last year's fatal crash had forced the council to act, and since then traffic surveys had shown the average speed on the road was already lower than 50mph.

Officially cutting the speed limit "should improve safety for all road users on the A61", he said, adding that public responses would be considered as part of the decision-making process.

However, in July, Ripon City councillors, who have an advisory role on highways matters in the area, agreed to send an objection about the proposed new 50mph limit.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Peter Horton said a lower speed limit could further frustrate motorists on that stretch of road.

Mr Horton said the reduced limit could make the road "more dangerous" and would "increase the volume of traffic and queues".

The council is set to make a final decision on whether to implement the speed limit later this year.

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