MORE speed cameras could prevent accidents on a treacherous stretch of the A48 at Woolaston, residents say.

A fatal crash in last month's icy snap took the life of 50 year-old Rob Wilson of Pontyridd and Anthony Jones of Lydney had a near miss when he lost control of his car in the ice and careered off the road – miraculously escaping uninjured.

Residents say the patch sees more than its fair share of bumps and prangs and it is time for action to be taken before anyone else is injured.

Among the campaigners are Claire Amor, who was first on the scene at the last fatal accident and Paul Guest, who was seriously injured when he was hit by a car at the junction in 1974. His sister Lian was killed.

Mary Bailey lives on the A48, immediately opposite the Woolaston Inn, and says traffic frequently hits speeds of 80mph and drivers often ignore road markings.

She said cars turning right off the A48 get stuck in the middle of the road and are hooted by cars that ignore the white diagonal stripes and try to overtake.

Water runs onto the main road from a farm track and makes pools which freeze in cold weather.

There is no speed camera on the fast approach to this hazardous spot, so drivers are often travelling too quickly and sometimes lose control of the vehicle.

She said: "I am not suggesting the latest tragedy was necessarily caused by excessive speed. A terribly cold night and minimal grit were inviting just such an awful event.

"Time and again we are witness to or involved in these dramas. On one occasion, after complaints, the police appeared in a car and parked at Station Road (I believe to monitor the speed).

"This was a rather pointless exercise as their car was clearly visible from the speed camera, so obviously the drivers were behaving themselves.

"I am not advocating that the police should hide from view, but rather that a more pro-active approach to safety should be considered.

"Although not in favour of indiscriminate use of the speed cameras, I do think that under these circumstances cameras correctly sited on either side of the road would greatly improve the situation."

•Read Mary Bailey's letter in page 16.