A mechanical engineer has warned someone will be killed unless drivers stop using the streets around his home as a race track.
Speaking after witnessing the aftermath of a car which smashed into another near his home in Stapleton Hall Road, 67-year-old Eldridge Culverwell said: “Cars often come flying down the streets. The worst thing is a lot of children and elderly people walk along the roads. I’m fearful speeding drivers are going to kill people. This is what’s so dangerous,” Mr Culverwell, who has a 14 year old daughter, added.
Tuesday afternoon’s collision saw an R-reg silver Mazda MX-5 seized for no insurance and a driver interviewed under caution after hitting a Toyota Prius with 15 firefighters from Hornsey, Holloway and Islington sorting the mess out. Paramedics treated a man for minor injuries.
“I’m always shocked when an accident happens, but this was inevitable. There have been too many accidents in this area,” Mr Culverwell claimed.
According to Mr Culverwell negligent drivers regularly flout speed limits and ignore traffic calming measures, including speed bumps and signs, in Oakfield, Elyne, Mount View and Stapleton Hall Roads.
“It almost seems like a game to some drivers. People have these super cars that fly over bumps with their greater suspension. We’ve got signs and precautionary measures, but guys still come and do this. I’m at a loss. I don’t know how it can be prevented.”
In order to draw attention to the problem Mr Culverwell logs accidents, taking pictures with his camera and sharing them with the police.
He claimed: “It’s boy racers aged between 18 and 30. If I came face to face with them I would be very wary of saying anything.”
Spokesman for road safety charity Brake Dave Nichols said: “It’s concerning and worrying to hear about the dangerous and reckless driving that is taking place on this stretch of road.
“As a charity supporting bereaved and seriously injured crash victims, we know only too well the heartache caused by speeding drivers.
“Driving is unpredictable and if something unexpected happens on the road ahead – such as a child stepping out from between parked cars – it is a driver’s speed that will determine whether they can stop in time and, if they can’t stop, how hard they will hit.”
“Speed limits, such as 20mph around schools, homes and shops, are not only there to protect people, but also to encourage more active and healthy travel, for example by bike and foot.
“We welcome any action that the police and council can take to combat this selfish driving and encourage all drivers and riders to keep their speed down,” he added.
A spokeswoman for Haringey Council said: “These roads are in a 20mph zone and have a number of traffic calming measures in place. If residents are concerned about speeding, they can contact us. We would work with the community and police to look into these concerns further.”
According to the latest figures from the London Fire Brigade there were 124 collisions in Haringey last year up from 95 in 2009. In total there have been 845 road traffic collisions since 2009.
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