Roundabout crash data shows 'strong' safety record

Townend Roundabout in Barnsley has been the site of 41 collisions in the past 10 years

Figures showing the number of collisions at some of Barnsley's busiest roundabouts demonstrate the town's roads have a "strong" safety record, a councillor has said.

Data published by Barnsley Council showed there were 41 collisions at Townend Roundabout that had resulted in an injury over the past 10 years, however none were fatal.

The statistics also showed that Stairfoot Roundabout had 39 collisions in the past decade, while Harborough Hill, also known as Old Mill Lane, recorded 36.

Councillor James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said: "Road safety remains a top priority for the council and our roundabouts continue to demonstrate a strong safety record."

Alhambra Roundabout saw 30 collisions and the roundabout at junction 37 of the M1 at Dodworth recorded 16, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

None of these sites have seen a fatal incident during the past decade.

Higginbotham said: "While minor collisions do happen, they are not a significant concern for motorists and road users in our borough."

He said reviews of crash data were carried out regularly.

The most common cause of collisions on roundabouts was driver error, particularly among young motorists, according to the council.

To address this, the authority launched a campaign aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds - a group over-represented in casualty statistics.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.