THERE were fewer than 100 crashes in five years on two major roads in Poole, which are having their speed limits reduced for safety reasons.

Highways workers were installing new 40mph signs on Broadstone Way last week. The road, which had a 50mph speed limit, is being reduced, along with Holes Bay Road, which is also becoming 40mph.

When the Daily Echo first reported the changes, Poole council said accident records showed a “significant” number of accidents and reducing the speed would cut down the number of serious and fatal accidents on the roads.

They said similar action on the Dorset Way and Canford Way had reduced the number of collisions on those roads.

When asked for the figures which informed the decision to decrease the speed limit on Broadstone Way and Holes Bay Road, Poole council said there had been 71 accidents on the 50mph section of Holes Bay Road and Broadstone Way between May 2012 and April 2017.

These crashes had caused 107 casualties, of which 13 were seriously injured and one fatally.

And 23 of the casualties were ‘vulnerable road users’ i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

“Speed surveys show that the existing average speed in these sections of road is 39mph and a 40mph speed limit is therefore appropriate,” the council said.

Engineers have carried out major works on Holes Bay Road to create a new junction at Sterte Avenue West.

Martin Baker, senior engineer for the Borough of Poole, told the Echo the reduced speed limit along Holes Bay Road would improve safety at the junction.

However, drivers who took to social media to complain called the decision “ridiculous”.

They said the move was unnecessary and that it would give police an opportunity to introduce more speed cameras.