'Someone else will die': Renewed calls for speed cameras after fatality at A41 accident blackspot from Cosford to Whitchurch

In the five years between 2017 and 2022 there were more than 190 crashes where people were killed or injured, with police analysis revealing eight people had died and 56 people had been seriously injured.

More recently, several crashes have seen more people lose their lives on the busy A-road.

In May 2024, a 20-year-old man died after a collision with another vehicle near Newport. Three months later, a second man lost his life after his vehicle collided with a tree near Tong.

Earlier this month, on Sunday, March 2, a motorcyclist died after a multi-vehicle collision on the A41 near Hinstock. 

Back in 2022, Shropshire councillors passed a motion calling for a number of measures to improve safety along the road – including average speed cameras, a review of dangerous junctions, and improved signage, while Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard also campaigned for improvements.

In January 2024, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he was sharing £600,000 between two road safety schemes – one of which was the A41.

The money could be used to fund average speed cameras on the route but, at the time, the decision was awaiting a 'route study' from Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils to determine the best measures for the road.

Now, more than one year on after the funding was allocated, Mr Pritchard MP and Telford & Wrekin Councillor Peter Scott say it is time for action.

Mr Pritchard said: "I have campaigned for average speed cameras along this dangerous road for a long period of time.

"Last year, it finally seemed the funds for average speed cameras had been allocated by the Office of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner.

"However, these funds are still to be released. Action needs to be taken before more lives are lost."

Councillor Scott said: "Another life has been lost on the A41. It's time to get serious. We can't afford to have people dying and cars being wrecked because of any delays."

He is calling on residents concerned to write to their local MPs, councillors and the PCC about the issue.

He added: "Someone else will die if we don't shout loud enough, more people will lose their lives."

Responding to the calls Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “We know speed is a major contributory factor in around one third of all road traffic collisions.

"That’s why I have made significant funding available to install an average speed camera scheme on the A41, if the route study being carried out by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils supports it.

“Enforcement also plays a role, and that’s why it’s right that West Mercia Police has intensified its activity on the A41 over the past twelve months.

“To be clear, improving road safety is no easy fix, and the solution does not lie solely on the police. Instead, it’s going to take partners working together to support efforts to educate motorists, improve road engineering and enforce the law.”

Mr Campion's office also provided data from West Mercia Police’s Road Safety Team which said there are 13 speed enforcement sites along the A41.

It added that from March 1, 2024, to March 12, 2025, West Mercia Police has visited 387 times with enforcement vehicles and processed 2,339 offences.

In addition to this, it said the Motorcycle Tasking Team and Operational Policing Unit issued 126 Traffic Offence Reports along this route last year, some of which related to excess speed.

Telford & Wrekin Council has been contacted for comment.