Signs to warn drivers of the number of accidents on the A590 are being considered as attention continues to be focused on efforts to cut the numbers killed and seriously injured on the area's major trunk road.

It follows the setting up of a young driver-training course, which was financially supported at a meeting of Cumbria County Council's local committee for South Lakeland.

Coun Roger Bingham explained the idea of warning signs to alert passing motorists of the accident rate was being considered and would be similar to those on the A66 at Scotch Corner.

Only recently a pole-mounted camera was placed close to the scene on the A590 where three teenagers were involved in a fatal road accident on March 16, the cause of which is not yet known.

In March, Coun Ron Mein spoke of his concern at claims drivers had been turning off their lights to negotiate a stretch of the A590 where new generation cats eyes had been installed, creating a "landing strip" effect.

At the latest committee meeting, Coun Pauline Halfpenny applauded Coun Mein for the speech he gave at the cabinet meeting which warned of the rumoured practice.

In answer to queries from committee members, Coun Mein told councillors the camera had been recording oncoming vehicles as they negotiated a rising bend in the road situated between Bouth Road end and Greenodd.

He explained: "It has recorded the position of car in relation to the camber and how far they drift out and also to see if there is any truth in the claim that people are driving through there without their lights on at night."

Members agreed to contribute £2,000 of £5,000 already allocated by the committee towards driver training courses in the Cartmel and Furness areas of South Lakeland.

Coun Mein told members that road traffic accident figures for South Lakeland in 2002 showed there were 173 people killed or seriously injured and 17 were children.

He said "slight damage" accidents, which did not involve hospital treatment, accounted for 832 incidents.

"If an initiative like this can reduce these figures by even one per cent it is worth supporting," said Coun Mein.

Coun Ian Stewart and Coun Joe Nicholson are members of the committee and representatives of Cumbria Police Authority. Coun Stewart said CAP had the issue of road safety at the top of its agenda.

"The accident rate is far too high and I think it is fair to say Joe and I will take the message back to Cumbria Police Authority that South Lakeland local committee supports them and are making a contribution in this way."

Cumbria Police spokesman Mike Head said the idea of placing accident signs was being progressed.

May 22, 2003 15:30