A682 Nelson to Long Preston - UKs most dangerous road

A682 Nelson to Long Preston - UKs most dangerous road

Author
Discussion

Garett

Original Poster:

1,625 posts

192 months

Sunday 27th July 2008
quotequote all
A682 Lancashire
This road starts in Nelson, runs through Barrowford, Blacko onto Gisburn and continues for another 10 or so miles onto Long Preston.

This was covered in the press last year in papers and on TV etc ( http://motortorque.askaprice.com/news/auto-0706/a6... )

I use this stretch of road almost everyday, my mum and dad used it to get me to primary school, high school and now I use it to get to work, see my friends etc.

The main culprit it seems (imo) are motorcyclists, its used by many of them whenever the weathers decent and as a lot of them meet in Kirkby Lonsdale on a sunday, its used by people from all over east Lancs to get there.
I used to want a motorbike but seeing the amount of wrecks, flowers by sides of the road, yellow markings on the road etc has completely put me off.

Heading over to play football today, again there was another recovery truck and emergency vehicles sorting out another accident (motorbike) frown

It is a great road and is the sort of road that would encourage you to 'push on' a bit, but has lots of hidden dangers, dips mid bend, blind corners, concealed entrances and few overtaking opportunities if you get stuck behind farm traffic, caravans, rovers etc

Just wondering if anyone has any experience/stories of this road, i'm sure i've riled a few motorbikers, but it really does seem to be predominantly them unfortunately.

Oh and by the way, there are signs warning of speed cameras but along the whole 15 mile stretch, there isn't a SINGLE ONE! If they really were 'road safety devices', surely this, the most dangerous road in Britain would be the perfect place to put them!!!


Lancs Dave

146 posts

189 months

Tuesday 29th July 2008
quotequote all
I am familiar with this road too.

Was driving it from Gisburn back to Barrowford a few years back. Came around the left hand bend just as it drops to a 30 limit and the was a biker lying in the road. I was more concerned about the people in the Metro he had smashed into and made a right mess of. Biker died a couple of days later.

millband

4,031 posts

214 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
Me too. I lived in Colne for a while and used this road to get to the Lakes many times. Really enjoyed it, but it suffers with limited overtaking opportunities, and those that exist are marginal.

I was only in the area 3 years and even I have a biker story. Saw the aftermath of a fatal crash one Sunday morning, long enough after so that people were gathered and there was nothing I could add - but soon enough that the ambulance had not arrived yet. Quite shocking.

It was on one of the few straights. The story as I understand it is the bike pulled out to overtake a milk truck, but the milk truck was actually turning right into a farm entrance.

Steve

DIW35

4,145 posts

200 months

Friday 29th August 2008
quotequote all
I thought the Cat and Fiddle was considered Britain's most dangerous road.

blackburnbmw

2,336 posts

198 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
quotequote all
Good road EARLY on a saturday or sunday morning. By the time a few "sunday drivers" are out, plus a few inexperienced superbike riders, it can all get a bit scary. As mentioned, lots of bikers around the area due to Devils Bridge at Kirby Lonsdale, folk going to car-boot sales, people towing caravans/horse boxes, a few lorries and tractors etc and you've got a recipe for disaster. Like any road - treat it and use it as you find it on the day. If busy, take care. If quiet, make some progress.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

217 months

Sunday 31st August 2008
quotequote all
I used to use the road quite a bit. Between Gisburn and Long Preston there are quite a few nasty bends and dips and the road narrows in parts. This is compounded by the road being the main route for trucks leaving and heading to the quarry. It's a combination of an unpredictable road and regular, slow moving overtake targets.

7mike

3,010 posts

193 months

Sunday 21st September 2008
quotequote all
On the Gisburn - Long Preston stretch there is a junction on the right (hidden in a dip) leading to Helifield. Couple of months back I turned left out of this junction to be met by a rep mobile overtaking a Land Rover ( & yes I had looked both ways) across the double solid lines. I would hate to see the limit lowered on this road but no doubt the idiots will ruin it for all of use.

roadtramp

1 posts

115 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
I am a new on hear but would like to comment on this subject. I cannot comment on the accident on Sunday as I wasn't there. My comment is about the road being dangerous I don't think there is any such thing has a dangerous road its the people that use them that are dangerous. By the way I am a motorcyclist and have been for over 50 years. I have travelled in both directions on that road many times both in daylight and at night and never had a problem with it. There does seem to be a lot of motorbike related accidents and wish I had the answer to prevent them from happening. The only advice I can give to motorcyclists is if you have overtake slower vehicles try to avoid overtaking on a right hand curve as that will compromise your line a left hand curve is much safer as its normal line even if you're not overtaking. Thank You All And Safe Motoring.

shackman

8 posts

144 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
I live in Colne also, I have driven this road many, many times.

It's a great stretch of road early on a weekend but can be annoying when following slow moving traffic.
I also think the major culprit for the "danger" is motorcyclists.
I have seen packs of them overtake on solid white lines, blind bends, in front of on coming traffic.
If you don't know the road it has many hazards.
I have also seen mobile speed cameras on the stretch from Gisburn to Hellifield.

There are lots of safe overtaking points if you know the road.

There are fun alternatives going through Paythorne and head towards Wigglesworth, and then Settle.
This road also has hazards but if you drive to the road conditions and your ability it's not a problem!

NicheMonkey

458 posts

128 months

Sunday 7th September 2014
quotequote all
Great Road but it's got be quiet to enjoy it, I live close by and there are some other fantastic roads nearby with great views to boot