A ROAD sign featuring a coffin is "very, very distasteful" according to the Hambleton transport committee chairman. But it is not nearly as distasteful as the fact that four people have died at this accident blackspot in four years.

Thormanby villagers were sick of the carnage. They took the unusual decision to create their own sign to slow down motorists and to press for the case for a bypass.

That case is compelling. Traffic flies along the A19 and too few motorists adjust to the speed restriction imposed at Thormanby. At the same time, the hill restricts the view of the road ahead.

It is a highly dangerous mix. Families who live alongside the road have every right to fear for their safety.

Their coffin sign may not be in the best possible taste. But when you need to get a message across in seconds, shock tactics work. The same strategy is used by the Government's road safety and anti drink-driving campaigns.

Pertinently, the Highways Agency itself does the very same thing. Its bold roadside slogans declare 'Tiredness can kill' or 'Four people have died on this stretch of road since 1997'.

Motorists are confronted with their own mortality by the Thormanby coffin. They do slow down. There has not been a fatal crash in the village since the sign went up, which strongly suggests it works.

Neither is there is any evidence to suggest that the sign is distracting drivers dangerously. Motoring organisations are more concerned about the distracting effect of Wonderbra advertisements than a warning such as this.

Hambleton District Council should have more pressing matters to attend to than the future of an unofficial road sign, especially one that is patently improving road safety.

Councillors' time would be better spent helping villagers with their campaign for a much-needed bypass.

Updated: 13:51 Friday, April 20, 2001