A 'COMPLEX' vehicle-activated sign to help reduce speeding at a crash hot spot is due to be completed this month.

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West-Worcestershire, called for urgent action this week on enforcing a new speed limit for a 'dangerous stretch' of the A46. 

National Highways said a temporary 40 mph limit would be put in place along the stretch of road at Hinton Cross where there have been a number of fatal accidents in recent years.

A variable speed-activated sign is now being put in place to deter speeding.

Ian Doust, National Highways programme development manager, said that the sign installation has been delayed due to a lack of electricity in the area.

He said: "The preliminary design of the vehicle-activated sign is due to be completed this month.

"It is a complex design and there are some challenges in placing the sign at this location. There is no electricity so we have to arrange a new connection with the power supplier.

“We also have to ensure the sign and the detection equipment that will trigger it are at defined distances from the junction to maximise their effectiveness and ensure compliance.

"This must be balanced with local topography and constraints such as buried utilities and existing road features.

"All this will be addressed in our detailed design to ensure the sign is as effective as it can be.”

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Mr Doust also said that since introducing the temporary reduced speed limit on the A46 at Hinton Cross, there has been a reduction in average speeds by more than 10 miles per hour, and are working to make the change permanent. 

Harriett Baldwin MP questioned how long it has taken to get the changes impended, and also called on the police to carry out speed enforcement in the area. 

She said: "I’ve written to Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion asking him to ensure appropriate enforcement is carried out.

“If we all work together to make incremental improvements to this stretch of road, I hope it will get safer for local users."