MAJOR road improvements will be made to a notorious accident blackspot, following the latest fatality.

A Highways Agency official told an inquest that plans for the A59 Longsight Road include speed cameras, a 40mph limit and improvements to the junction with Osbaldeston Lane and Abbot Brow.

The agency was asked to reveal its proposals for safety improvements when the inquest was opened in November into the death of Christine Mary Green, of Haighton Court, Fulwood, Preston.

But the reconvened inquest heard that the mother-of-two, aged 40, had fallen asleep at the wheel when she crashed head-on with a tipper truck.

The inquest heard that John Green and his wife, their eight-year-old son, and Mr Green's mother were returning from Skipton. They were about 15 minutes from home when Mrs Green complained of being tired. Mr Green asked his wife if she wanted to stop for a while, but she said she would be OK. Mr Green said he then closed his eyes and, when he opened them again moments later, immediately realised they were on the wrong side of the road. "I looked at my wife," said Mr Green. "She still had her hands on the wheel but her eyes were closed."

A split second later the driver's side of the car collided with a tipper truck driven by Hugh Fitzgerald, of Tindall Close, Hellifield, Skipton.

Eye witnesses told how Mrs Green's car pulled sharply into the wrong lane without indicating. The car did not accelerate as if to overtake and there were no brake lights.

After colliding with the car, Mr Fitzgerald's lorry jack-knifed and collided with another car before coming to rest in a field. Civil engineer Christopher Gibson, of Warrington, was following the Greens' car. When it pulled out, apparently to overtake, he said: "I could see the oncoming HGV was only about 50 yards away and I knew an accident was going to happen."

Robert Baldwin, area manager for the Highways Agency, said the number of fatalities on the stretch of road was a particular concern.

He outlined a programme of works for the next three years, starting with improvements at the Petre roundabout this quarter. Two fixed speed cameras will be sited at Copster Green and a mobile camera will be utilised on the whole stretch of road. Traffic calming measures will be introduced near the Osbaldeston Road junction prior to improvements to the junction. Double white lines will be introduced East of St Mary's Church. A 40mph speed limit will be introduced, subject to police approval.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, assistant deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton, said Mrs Green's death should serve as a timely reminder of the dangers of driving when you feel tired. "As drivers we have all found ourselves in a position where we feel weary and common sense should tell us to stop and have a rest."

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