TWO shocking accidents in two days highlight the potential dangers of driving on the A64.

Much attention has been focused on the A64 between Leeds and York, with this newspaper's Close The Gaps campaign successfully blocking off a notorious opening in the dual carriageway.

Now it is time, once again, to look at the A64 between York and the East Coast. A woman died and five people were injured yesterday and on Monday five people were taken to York Hospital after an accident involving two cars.

Yesterday's fatality occurred at a known North Yorkshire accident blackspot at Barton Hill, near Malton.

Whatever the reasons for the latest crashes, it is clear to anyone who has driven on it that this road needs to be made safer.

The A64 is the main link between the Yorkshire coast and the motorway networks of the A1, M1 and M62. At holiday times it is especially busy, taking day-trippers to and from the coast. Drivers using the road on such days may not know it well or understand its difficulties.

This road is treacherous thanks to its mix of dual and single carriageway. It is also hazardous because of the many junctions and crossings along the length of a fast-moving road.

Down the years, assorted government ministers have visited the region to witness the dangers of the A64; Transport Minister David Jamieson was here only last march on a fact-finding mission. Yet still nothing has happened.

Ryedale MP John Greenway has long been campaigning to have the road made safer, ideally by turning it into a dual carriageway. Mr Greenway has the backing of the RAC, which supports dualling the road between York and Scarborough to avoid rising accidents and to boost the region's economy.

It is time that the Government acted on the widespread anxiety about this road and made it safer.

Updated: 11:28 Wednesday, June 02, 2004