A PETITION calling for urgent safety improvements at the A48 railway bridge near Westbury-on-Severn has gained momentum following another crash on the route last month.

More than 330 people have now signed the petition, launched by local bus driver Daniel Slattery, who says daily near-misses are becoming the norm for motorists navigating the tight bend under the bridge along Jordan’s Hill.

Campaigners are calling for Gloucestershire Highways to cut back overgrown vegetation, which they say blocks visibility of oncoming traffic, and to extend the reduced speed limit further up the hill.

The narrow section of road is regularly used by buses, lorries and large vans, many of which are forced to use the middle of the carriageway to pass safely beneath the bridge.

Local residents say this regularly causes confusion and panic among drivers unfamiliar with the route.

In his petition, Mr Slattery described driving the stretch as: “a mix of caution and fear, and there are around 10 near misses every day.”

He believes the problem lies in the combination of speeding drivers, poor visibility and the reluctance of some motorists to slow down in case they are hit from behind.

Residents say the visibility issue is compounded by fast-approaching vehicles that expect others to stop part-way through the bridge. Without a clear view of the road ahead, and with traffic closely packed, drivers often brake suddenly — leading to collisions.

According to campaigners, there are typically two crashes per month in or near the bridge. The most recent incident occurred on Monday, March 31, when a driver reportedly had to brake sharply after spotting a large vehicle in the middle of the road.

The vehicle behind was unable to stop in time and went into the back of the car. Police were called to the scene.

In an email sent last month to Gloucestershire County Council highways officers Dominic Morris and Jason Hynm, Mr Slattery urged the council to act, copying in Westbury Parish Council’s Simon Phelps and staff from Forest of Dean MP Matt Bishop’s office.

The petition also cites Department for Transport data showing that poor visibility contributed to over 3,000 road accidents in the UK in 2019. Mr Slattery said this stretch of the A48 should not have to wait for a fatality before action is taken.

Despite the recent crash and growing support for the petition, campaigners say their concerns have been largely ignored.

An update this week confirmed that Gloucestershire Highways had finally issued a response, acknowledging that a safety survey had been carried out.

A Freedom of Information request has now been submitted to obtain the full survey report, along with additional correspondence related to the decision.

Mr Slattery is urging anyone who has been involved in an accident or near-miss on the bridge in the past five years to get in touch, and a new residents’ group has been set up to keep pressure on the council.

He’s also encouraging others to sign and share the petition, which remains live.