URGENT calls have been made for changes at a traffic blackspot near Cheltenham following two collisions in two days.
Residents said reduced speed limits and new road markings are a must on the stretch of the A40 near Dowdeswell Reservoir and Koloshi restaurant.
It comes after a 40-year-old man was left in a critical condition following a head-on collision there earlier this month.
And just 24 hours later, with the debris only just cleared away, the road had to be closed again after two other vehicles were involved in a smash.
Robbie Dewan, manager at Koloshi restaurant and bar, said it was time for something to be done urgently after numerous accidents at the spot.
He feared some drivers were overtaking at dangerous points in the road.
"It's a dangerous stretch of road – there's no doubt about it," he said.
"Since we moved here a year ago there have been several accidents.
"I'm not sure if it's anything to do with the road markings, but it seems the corner as you are coming into Cheltenham is one drivers often take too fast.
"In the morning, the last thing I want is to come in to see is there has been another crash outside.
"I had to go through the CCTV footage of last week's incidents with the police and it wasn't pleasant watching.
"It's time something was done to make the road safer.
"I think as soon as you get to the approach into Cheltenham, where it starts getting windy and going downhill, it should be a 40mph speed limit.
"At the moment we've got people going at 60mph and it's just too fast."
A motorist who did not wish to be named but who uses the road every day on his way to work, added: "It's a scary stretch of road.
"I work nearby and have seen first-hand how quickly people travel along it.
"A colleague of mine pulled over the other day because the guy behind him was trying to overtake and he wanted to avoid an accident.
"People go along there far too quickly, they are impatient and they often want to overtake."
Another motorist said: "One of the issues is that the road markings encourage people to overtake on a stretch where they shouldn't because it's too near the bend and you can be left unsighted."
The causes of the collisions, which took place on June 20 and 21, are not yet known, with investigations ongoing.
However, there have been several nasty accidents at the spot in recent years.
In June last year, 20-year-old graphic design student Katherine Garcia Gamboa, from Upper Slaughter, died after her vehicle was involved in a collision there.
Problems
Police said it would be inappropriate to comment on problems with the road layout while investigations into recent incidents were ongoing. But Bob Skillern, highways manager at Gloucestershire County Council, said changes would be made to the stretch as soon as next month – although he added the work was not a consequence of recent collisions.
He said: "We would not want to comment on any ongoing police investigations, though our thoughts are with the families of those involved in recent incidents.
"We are about to introduce a number of safety improvements to this stretch of the A40, including new signs, vehicle activated signs and road markings.
"These changes, which will begin in December, have been planned since 2011."
