THE speed limit is set to be lowered on a road branded the "most dangerous" in South Gloucestershire.

The A46 in Old Sodbury will become a 50mph zone following two fatal crashes in 2008 and a string of other serious accidents.

South Gloucestershire Council said the move was in response to the number of accidents on the section of road from the Cross Hands junction southbound towards Junction 18 of the M4.

A statement said: "The A46 south of the Cross Hands has been identified as a short length of road suffering from a cluster of road traffic accidents including two fatalities.

"All of the accidents have occurred during the hours of darkness and in wet conditions.

"A casualty reduction scheme has been developed to improve safety on a series of bends along the A46 between the Cross Hands junction and the lorry depot."

As part of the authority’s attempt to cut accidents on the road, the current national speed limit (60mph) will be lowered to 50mph from the Cross Hands to the bend with Hammerdown Farm and new reflective signs will be erected to improve driving conditions at night.

In November 2008, mother-of-two Kate Macnab, 43, died on the bend when her motorbike collided with a car.

Mrs Macnab, from Dursley, was on her way home when a car travelling southbound towards the M4 overtook another vehicle. In May that year, a man in his thirties died when his Ford Focus crashed into a tree just before the same bend. A motorcyclist was also seriously injured on the same bend in 2006.

Cllr Sue Hope (Lib Dem, Cotswold Edge), who has been leading calls for safety measures to be introduced, welcomed the move.

"Obviously there is a problem and we need to get something done about it," she said.

Improvements were made to the stretch of road in 2004 following a public campaign by local group Action A46.

The road was also resurfaced in August last year to improve the skid resistance of the surface.

The council launched a public consultation on the lower speed limits on Monday. Detailed plans are available for viewing at Chipping Sodbury Library and comments are welcome until Thursday, February 18. Write to South Gloucestershire Council, Thornbury, BS35 1HF.