Forum Topic

Traffic Safety on Windmill Road

The amount and speed of vehicle users on the part of Windmill Road from the library to the Great West Road (in both directions) is a danger to both pedestrians and drivers.  The road (especially on the railway bridge is a potential accident waiting to happen, from the excessive speed of many drivers and the narrow guague of the road.  Parking at the newsagent/curry shop also presents further blockage of the road and makes crossing the road (in either direction) yet a further risk. A zebra crossing around the entrance to BrockshotRoad might help this potentialtrouble spot.  The area under the Great West Road is also in need of traffic re-direction, there are so many near misses and accidents almost daily.  Motorists jumping lights and turning into the Great West Road to and from WIndmill  Road.

Sheena Ferguson ● 6075d14 Comments

I think its at the Windmill Rd crossing a dropped curb has actually disappeared with the recent "improvements"...  I think we need to get TfL back out on site...Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6041d

Are there any plans to make it possible for cyclsists on the A4 cycle path (and pedestrians for that matter) to be able to cross Ealing Road at the junction with the A4? There isn't a dropped kerb or even a traffic light solution at the minute, and it's pretty dangerous from what I see every day.

Ian Douglas ● 6041d

Ah, that clears it up :-)  I did wonder ! - I don't personally use separate cycle lanes like on the A4, as the only time I'm on a bike I'm out on a training ride etc. and I'd rather chance my arm in the traffic on a road than have to dodge walkers and other 'recreational' cyclists on a cycle path.  But now that you've clarified the position I don't think it's a bad idea at all for cyclists who do use the cycle path on the A4.

Adam Beamish ● 6044d

To clarify this is giving cyclists the right of way across the side roads.  At the moment cyclists travelling along the A4 cycle path stop, start at every minor junction.  Any clearer?The only significant exception at the moment is the petrol station where Lampton Rd meets the A4, where cyclists have right of way across the entrance.  This demonstrates how it could work.Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6045d

"Specifically I would like to see TfL a pilot that gives cyclists, not drivers, the right of way where small roads join the Great West Rd - from Chiswick roundabout going west to Hounslow."So some poor car driver who is obeying the speed limit on the A4 and driving on the inside lane suddenly finds a cyclist turning out straight infront of them ?!.  Or is said driver supposed to crawl down a three lane carriageway at 10mph just incase a cyclist decides to pull out one of the sideroads ?!.  I presume I've misinterpreted your suggested pilot Andrew, because otherwise it's simply bonkers.

Adam Beamish ● 6045d

I have also witnessed some of the extraordinary driving of bus drivers in the area.  The need for better training/ more caution needs to be communicated to/ from Transport for London (TfL). Before and also since the sad death of Michael - cycling along on the A4 cycle path - I have been getting my colleagues on the London Assembly to challenge TfL to improve the cycle lanes on the A4.  Specifically I would like to see TfL a pilot that gives cyclists, not drivers, the right of way where small roads join the Great West Rd - from Chiswick roundabout going west to Hounslow.When Lionel Rd Primary started to expand recently one of my particular concerns was that we had not made any improvements to the north-south pedestrian crossings, and yet there are now more young families making that journey every day.  I have raised this with the Director of Education.The good news is that there is about £700k of funding suitable for lighting/ pedestrian improvements alongside (and under) the A4 has been identified by the Isleworth and Brentford Area "S106" sub-committee, which Matt and I both sit on.  Our challenge now is now to get LB Hounslow to commission the necessary designs/ studies for improvements and also to galvanise the necessary support from TfL. Best, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6045d

The central reservation on the A4 is not actually controlled by the lights - it's a Give Way there, so if the A4 is clear drivers are allowed to cross and it may look as if they're jumping the lights, but they're not.

Karen Adams ● 6046d

“I can vouch for the deadly speed that motorists and especially the 195 and E8 drivers display.I was on a 195 on Thursday morning (5th Nov) and as a vehicle driver I am sure that he was travelling this section at between 40-50 mph, didn't even slow for the zebra crossing.”Niel - Neither of these services uses Windmill Road.  They follow Boston Manor Road and Half Acre.  Which zebra crossing and you referring to?

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6046d

Aren't drivers more likely to slow down for a raised sebra crossing?  (There can also be problems with drivers not stopping for pedestrians on zebras.)

Philippa Bond ● 6046d

I can vouch for the deadly speed that motorists and especially the 195 and E8 drivers display.I was on a 195 on Thursday morning (5th Nov) and as a vehicle driver I am sure that he was travelling this section at between 40-50 mph, didn't even slow for the zebra crossing.But what's the use? Nothing will get done I am sure, except one of those pointless "30" signs that waste takpayers money and achieve nothing

Niel Gavin ● 6046d

Good reply from Matt Harmer, I still think speed is a factor and the yellow lines should, but dont stop people parking particularly outside the newsagent/curry shop.  It slows down traffic temporarily but this particular area is used by the elderly in Lambert Lodge and school children crossing to the train station.  Parked cars may slow down speeding but they also are hazards to pedestrians crossing.  The road is curved and narrow from Hamilton Ave. to Brockshot.

Sheena Ferguson ● 6072d

Good thread. I've met twice now with TfL (Transport for London, who manage the A4) and council engineers to look at the junction and the lack of activity is a frustration which I have just written to senior people about. Months ago, I was told that one of those illuminated '30' signs would be put on Windmill Rd north of the A4 to deal with cars going too fast; I will add the part of the road south of the A4 to that list. I cycle that part of the road almost daily and I must admit I haven't felt that speeding is an issue here but fair enough if you feel differently. As for a zebra, would cars - even if they were within the speed limit - have enough time to see the crossing as they come over the railway bridge towards Brockshot, I wonder.One other point - as a driver I find that parked cars help slow one down, and preventing cars parking makes for a clearer road that in turn increases speed. Just a thought.Best,Cllr Matt HarmerBrentford ward

Matt Harmer ● 6073d

Sorry to hear you lost a friend, maybe one of our 'busy' councillors would read your reply.  There is an extreme possibility if a crash occured on the bridge it could be a major accident.

Sheena Ferguson ● 6073d

Nothing has changed then.. It was always a dangerous road with the double decker buses rushing both ways, either wanting to get to their break or late returning from break. A school friend was killed along there by Hamilton Road many moons ago.

Audrey Walton ● 6074d