Signs encouraging road users to report U-turns have been installed at a collision hotspot
in Cornwall.
Vision Zero South West and National Highways have erected signs along the Hayle
Bypass section of the A30, where collisions caused by U-turns have resulted in several
fatal and serious collisions.
The signs, which encourage road users with cameras to report U-turns to Devon &
Cornwall Police’s Op Snap, are designed to deter drivers from making the dangerous
manoeuvres.
Established in 2019, Op Snap is an online portal which allows the public to submit video
footage of road traffic offences directly to the police. Footage can be taken from
dashcams, helmet cameras, mobile phones and even video doorbells.
In collaboration with Vision Zero South West and Devon & Cornwall Police, National
Highways implemented a U-turn ban and associated signage along the Hayle bypass in
2021 following a study of safety data which identified eight collisions since 2014 as a
result of U-turn manoeuvres. These collisions resulted in one death, five people seriously
injured and 12 people left with slight injuries.
Oliver Dash, National Highways Senior Road Safety Engineer, said: “Safety is our first
priority, and the vast majority of drivers who use our roads every day are sensible, but
there are some road users who are putting themselves and others at risk by simply
ignoring enforceable prohibitions.
“We understand waiting in queues during periods of congestion can be frustrating, but
carrying out U-turn manoeuvres on a road such as the Hayle bypass is incredibly
dangerous.
“Although we’ve installed a U-turn ban, it doesn’t appear to be a sufficient deterrent, and
that’s why we’re working with Vision Zero South West and Devon & Cornwall Police’s
Operation Snap initiative to raise awareness of the risks and encourage responsible road
users to report any drivers undertaking these manoeuvres”.
By participating in submitting footage to Op Snap, the collaborative efforts of Vision Zero
South West, Devon & Cornwall Police, and National Highways aim to make the Hayle
bypass area of the A30 safer for all road users.
The accompanying footage is one of many examples of a dangerous U-turn being
undertaken on the Hayle Bypass, forcing an oncoming vehicle to brake harshly to avoid a collision.
If you have a dash-cam installed and see any drivers making these dangerous
manoeuvres, please submit your footage to help make the A30 safer for everyone.
For further information on Operation Snap and to submit any footage you have captured,
please visit: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/opsnap
