Angry drivers slam new roundabout on 70mph road after TEN cars crash within just 48 hours
Motorists claim a lack of lighting and signs leading up to the new roundabout in Mickelover, Derby, has caused chaos
FURIOUS motorists have slammed a 'dangerous' new roundabout after 10 drivers crashed within 48 hours of it opening.
Three of the vehicles were abandoned after smashes on the A516 in Mickleover, Derby.
Drivers spoke of chaotic scenes and claim a lack of lighting and signs led them to drive straight over the island.
A maroon Ford Focus, a blue Peugeot 106, a dark blue Ford Fiesta and a Land Rover were among the vehicles whose owners failed to realise the new roundabout had been installed.
Motorists have now called for the council to put new rumble strips on the island following the carnage on Friday and Saturday.
The roundabout was installed to allow hundreds of homes to be built nearby.
Driver David Wilson, 46, of South Normanton, Derby, crashed at the roundabout, and watched a Land Rover drive straight over the island while he waited to be rescued.
He said: "It was around 4am and I was taking my cousin to Manchester Airport for her flight home to Canada.
"I am not familiar with the area but there was no lighting and no signage and I just drove straight into the roundabout and bumbled over it until we came to a stop.
"It is a bad one, as you simply don't know it is there."
Police were called to the scene after the three cars were seen abandoned there.
A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said: "We have received a number of reports of cars being left abandoned on the roundabout at Hospital Lane in Mickleover.
"There appears to be damage done to the blue Peugeot 106 and one of the chevrons on the roundabout."
Peter Hall, of Mickleover, Derby, said: "These accidents are not driver error but the result of a poorly designed, unlit roundabout on a 70mph dual carriageway.
"This carnage is taking place with no street lighting within 100 yards of the roundabout.
"By my reckoning at least ten vehicles have had accidents within less than 48 hours of this new junction opening - so it is probably the most dangerous roundabout in the country."
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One driver who used the road over the weekend said: "I can see why the accidents are happening at night - there are no street lights switched on at the roundabout - they stop a couple of hundred yards before and start again a couple of hundred yards after - that means the area is pitch black at night.
"People are saying 'how can you not see a roundabout?' but it's just a flat grassed area and, when the first car went over and smashed down the signs, then there were no signs."
A Derbyshire County Council spokesman said: "The new roundabout is being built by Barratt Homes as part of their adjoining development.
"The developer's designs, including signage, lighting and road markings have all been subject to scrutiny by our engineers as well as an independent Road Safety Audit.
"Further audits will be carried out now that the works are fully open to traffic and any necessary changes to the design carried out."
This month we reported the heart-stopping moment a couple holding their baby narrowly avoided being killed after leaping from the path of an oncoming car.
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