Forum Topic

Fatal accident Gt.West Rd./Boston Manor junction.

Was it necessary for the Police Car involved in this accident to be travelling at 73mph approaching a very busy junction, for what was a domestic problem in Hounslow.

Ron Curant ● 1079d19 Comments

It's a handful of rather affluent people and often not driving on UK licences. It's the  same thing as has been going on in Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner for the past decade but not quite the same group, but one suspects that the Home Office has leaned on the Police to not enforce heavily as it's probably got business/investement implications.Cameras mean nothing.  They are not deterred by such things.There are barely any traffic division Police left.  They were excellent as they were A. Human B. Rational.  They Would and could stop any vehicle for a light out or poor driving and use diligence. In other words a good telling off might be all it takes rather than fines.  But their presence kept standards up.But we all know it's all about income generated and not an actual improvement.

Raymond Havelock ● 1055d

When those beasts are booming down the A4... especially when underneath the Motorway (above) at the Brentford end.... the sounds are amplified and one can't help but gasp as one waits at those 91H bus stops.It's noise pollution and, for road users,  dangerous.Over to you Councillors.

Jim Lawes ● 1057d

Sadly, not just the A4 as Boston Road/Boston Manor Road is the 'feeder' onto the A4 for the ridiculously loud 'supercars'.

N V Brooks ● 1057d

Hi Raymond.  There was recently a cute picture of several SNT’s, railway police plus dog and handler all being despatched to spend the day outside Isleworth train station.

Sarah Felstead ● 1057d

Hi Ron.  Is that why the concrete fence at the junction of Wood Lane and A4 has been demolished?

Sarah Felstead ● 1057d

Our house backs onto the houses on Gt.West Road. It is very noticeable from a the noise level that sections of the Gt. West road have become Race Tracks,particularly the section between Gillette Corner and Wood lane. They know that there are no speed cameras between these junctions. The police just do not seem bothered.

Ron Curant ● 1057d

Not helped by OccupationLane being an epicentre for drug dealing which is clearly attracting non local traffic who collect from couriers pedestrian and on two wheels.How this has been allowed to persist and carry on for such a long time is truly appalling.

Raymond Havelock ● 1058d

It's full of Rich Boys toys. South Ealing Road last night had several million £££s with of supercars parked and moving slowly around at 8pm.But you could hear them later.This section of the A4 is a race track and it's not helped by it being continually very dark along much of it.The basement car park  of an A4 hotel is ( or was) full of dust layered supercars abandoned since the lockdown.

Raymond Havelock ● 1058d

Cant believe the number of accidents and fatalities adding up on the Great West Road. We live a few streets away from the A4 and it sounds like a race track at times, sometimes with police cars in hot pursuit.  Goodness knows how bad it is for people living alongside the new Silverstone.

Sarah Felstead ● 1058d

Why was a police car in Brentford responding to a domestic incident in Hounslow?No police cars in Hounslow?Was this death down to police cuts and the closure of police stations?

Dave Wetzel ● 1074d

I note with interest all that has been said.Over the last 50 years I have driven through this junction at least twice a day. Having passed my driving test in Sept 1952 and driven over 3 million miles accident and conviction free in all types of vehicle including fire engines and ambulances.Nobody, including the the emergency services can justify attempting to drive through this junction at 73 MPH. I rest  my case.

Ron Curant ● 1076d

Domestic violence often escalates into very serious incidents and as reported takes up a lot of police time.  It is wholly unpredictable and usually very nasty.Probably the worst aspect of Police work and so high in this country that it does impede on other aspects of policing.The complete cavalier attitude to personal road safety that has permeated over the past decade makes it a nightmare for emergency services and Public transport drivers.Everyone should be responsible for their own actions and kerb drill and road regulations are there for all primarily to protect and prevent. - especially pedestrians who are really all of us.But there's no real answer for those who are intoxicated and the imbalance and unpredictability that brings.  It can't be factored in when other lives are at risk.

Raymond Havelock ● 1077d

Exactly, N V. Report of domestic violence. The police amble round at 30mph and find a dead woman: another name for Jess Phillips to read out in Parliament that year.I assume they had their sirens and flashing lights on. If a drunk stumbles into their path, then that's very sad, but it's not their fault.

Susan Kelly ● 1078d

Jim, the chap who died was 37 and this was not the incident by Gillette Corner where the elderly gentleman died but by GSK over two years ago in June 2020.

N V Brooks ● 1078d

Sadly, our police services are not blessed with the gifts of neither foresight nor psychic powers. A report of domestic violence, or indeed violence of any kind, is received.They are not to know until they arrive if is is two people 'shouting the odds' to the point where neighbours are concerned or someone with a weapon threatening physical violence. Hence, they get to the scene as quickly and, normally, as safely as possible. Would you Ron really want it ny other way? A tragic accident.

N V Brooks ● 1078d

Okay, I've found the story a very long way down the front page. They were responding to an report of domestic violence, as they should. The pedestrian was seriously drunk and stepped out in front of the police car.It seems to be only men who think domestic violence is unimportant.

Susan Kelly ● 1078d

What is 'a domestic problem'? If it was a man threatening to kill his wife or neighbour and the police didn't respond quickly then they would be criticised for that. How likely is it that the 'problem' was trivial given that the police are so stretched that they don't come for burglaries any more?Posting something like this is pointless without a link to the full story.

Susan Kelly ● 1078d

Presumably that speeding information Ron was divulged at an inquest of an Accident a little while ago.Dreadful outcome.. a life lost..after many years (80?) living.

Jim Lawes ● 1079d

I think we're going to need rather more detail than that to form any sort of opinion.

Susan Kelly ● 1079d