ROAD safety measures which ‘could prevent another Selby train crash’ have been introduced on a dangerous bend in Yate.

A series of chevrons and warning signs will be installed in Watery Lane where a sharp bend in the road is just metres from the railway line.

But the traffic measures are not before time, according to town councillors who were calling for improved signage before an accident there four months ago.

Cllr Chris Willmore said the council had first raised the issue in 2007.

She said: "We spotted this was a problem and went to South Gloucestershire Council and said this is an accident waiting to happen.

"Then there was a serious accident where the driver did not see the bend by the railway bridge and went down the hill.

"As luck would have it the car stopped but only just before the railway line."

She added: "The council should have made these improvements when we told them it was a problem rather than waited for a serious accident to happen."

Cllr Mike Drew said: "A car going off into the railway line has bigger consequences than a car just going off into a normal road."

Cllr Sue Walker said: "I though that following the Selby rail disaster more money was made available to help this sort of problem."

Senior engineer Mike Johnson said Watery Lane was a ‘medium risk’ and that there had only been one other accident, when a car collided with a cyclist on the bend, in the past five years.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: "The council has a rolling programme of road safety improvements and as part of this new safety measures are being installed on Watery Lane.

"A series of chevrons will be installed on the outside of the bend to advise motorists travelling in both directions they are approaching a sharp turn and help guide them safely through it before they approach the railway over-bridge.

"It is planned to install these signs in the autumn."