Buggy hit by car blamed on traffic scheme

A mother whose buggy was hit by a car that mounted a pavement has blamed increased congestion caused by a nearby traffic restriction trial.

A bus, taxi and cycle-only trial began on 25 January on a section of Portswood Road in Southampton to improve air quality.

Miss Johnson, who did not want to give her full name, said the car hit the buggy with her five-month-old baby inside on Tuesday morning, during the school rush hour.

Eamonn Keogh, Southampton City Council cabinet member for transport, said he was "relieved that everyone involved in this incident is safe".

Miss Johnson, whose two other young children were with her at the time, said the car mounted the pavement after a collision with another car moments earlier.

"Both sides of the road were congested with traffic," she said.

"I feel that's because the [new restrictions] mean the road cannot be used effectively.

"It's incredibly dangerous, there's going to be a catastrophe or a fatal injury at some point."

Mr Keogh said he could "only imagine" how distressing the incident would have been.

"We would remind all drivers of the need to remain calm and be attentive after an incident and above all focus on making sure they and people nearby are safe," he explained.

The Portswood Road trial means only buses, taxis and cyclists are permitted to travel at certain hours between the junctions of St Denys Road spur and Westridge Road.

The council has announced cameras will be used to enforce the traffic restrictions on Portswood Road from Monday.

In the first instance, warning notices will be issued to drivers who pass through the restricted area at certain times of the day.

A fine of £70 - reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days - will be given to drivers for their second offence.

The council said some drivers had not been complying with the restrictions and it expected the cameras to improve the situation.

"This change is crucial to ensure the robustness of the trial and to support the goals of improving bus journeys as well as safety on Portswood Road," it said.

Mr Keogh added "adjustments" would be made to parking on Brookvale Road, which residents told the BBC was becoming dangerous due to increased traffic.

"This will help ease congestion and improve road safety around the junction," he said.

Additional monitoring of Brookvale Road will be carried out as part of the trial, he continued.

The council said money raised from Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) would fund the upkeep of the cameras and any extra funds would be "reinvested into Southampton's transport network".

It added its traffic data indicated that car use on Portswood Road had fallen the week the trial began, compared to the previous week, and pedestrian numbers along Portswood Broadway had risen in the same period.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it had been called to reports of a collision on Highfield Road between two cars, one of which then struck a pushchair on the pavement.

"This report is currently with local officers, who will review it and look at any lines of inquiry available," it added.

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