DRIVERS are not heeding new signs warning them to curb their speed along the A48 in the wake of an inquest into dad-of-two Mathew Trattles fatal crash.

The Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership signs in Minsterworth – where there have been four deaths on the road in three years – and between Highnam and Westbury-on-Severn are too small to be scanned by drivers travelling at speed, said Richard Few, chairman of Minsterworth Parish Council.

"You have to slow down to actually see what's written on them," he said.

"The best solution, we think, is a large solar-powered sign that measures cars' speeds and warns them to slow down if they are going above 50mph.

"Our concern is not only for the drivers, but for villagers visiting the post office and butcher's shop and workers at Lyes abattoir.

"And although the fatal accidents have involved cars coming from Gloucester, traffic coming from the Westbury direction is also dangerous for pedestrians.

"Speed is almost always a factor, and we have called on the police to do more speed checks."

Ann Trattles, whose 24-year-old son Mathew died after crashing near the Severn Bore pub last November, is also campaigning for a flashing speed sign.

The new signs went up the day before coroner Tom Osborne called for a safety review of the A48 at the Lydney dad's inquest.

He said he was writing to highways officials to ask them to investigate further measures to urge drivers to slow down and go no faster than 50mph.

Mr Trattles was thought to have been travelling at 86mph when he crashed.

Lawrence Elcocks, head of the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, said: "We await the letter from the coroner and hope these measures will help address his concerns. These signs went up ahead of the inquest verdict.

"Although Gloucestershire has recorded its lowest ever collision figures over the last year, this is one section of road where numbers are not going down.

"The GRSP is taking positive action to prevent further serious injury and death on the A48 with the series of signs making drivers aware of the casualty history and give brief facts, advice and guidance at key locations. I would appeal to all motorists who use this road to drive more carefully and slow down."