ONE of North Yorkshire's worst accident blackspots looks set to get road safety improvements - days after a smash injured two people.

And a new roundabout to help curb traffic dangers could also be built near the notorious A59 Whixley crossroads after further safety concerns were expressed.

Road safety campaigner and Harrogate borough councillor, Chris Lewis, asked for additional measures to complement improvements agreed by councillors yesterday.

Local highways committee members accepted plans for new crossroads advance warning signs, red surfaces, two new traffic islands, bar markings and improvements to visibility on the northern arm of the junction which is currently obscured by cars.

But Coun Lewis said Whixley village was a "rat run" of cars taking a short cut to the A59.

She called for traffic to be re-routed down the B6265 and Whixley village to be "access only" for residents.

She said: "The plan to slow the traffic is great, but we still need measures to help people turn right in safety.

"Whixley village has also become a problem area and we need to stop the thousands of cars that travel through it as a short cut."

These additional plans will not delay new traffic calming measures at Whixley crossroads, which will go ahead straight away.

The danger spot is the scene of 12 accidents in the past five years, including Tuesday's crash in which two drivers had to be cut from their cars.

The council agreed to look at Coun Lewis's additional ideas and reports would be prepared for November.

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