Call to change A38 lay-by after motorcyclist killed nearby

Calls are being made from motorists to make safe a dangerous spot of road, with many claiming to witness near-misses on the A38 near Ripley.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Aug 2016, 13:58 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 19:29 BST
A motorcyclist died after riding into the back of a stationary van on August 21. (Image: Twitter)A motorcyclist died after riding into the back of a stationary van on August 21. (Image: Twitter)
A motorcyclist died after riding into the back of a stationary van on August 21. (Image: Twitter)

The call follows a road traffic accident which ended a man's life nearby, at a lay-by less than a mile away at Swanwick.

Motorists have taken to social media commenting on the dangerous stretch of road which has led to at least one death in the past, and commenters are calling for a change as many others have escaped with only s near miss

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The Southbound carriageway has two lay-bys before the junction to turn onto the A610 for Nottingham and Ripley, one a few metres away from the slip road, and one further back - before the signs to turn off.

The lay-by on the A38 just before the Ripley Junction is signposted, but many drivers say they are still caught out and think it's the exit slip road. (Image: Google).The lay-by on the A38 just before the Ripley Junction is signposted, but many drivers say they are still caught out and think it's the exit slip road. (Image: Google).
The lay-by on the A38 just before the Ripley Junction is signposted, but many drivers say they are still caught out and think it's the exit slip road. (Image: Google).

This week a motorcyclist was killed after driving into a stationary lorry at the lay-by less than a mile north, closer to Swanwick.

But the memory of almost turning into the lay-by metres away from the slip road - only to jolt back out into the road - rung with many of our local drivers, who have been caught out even though the lay-by is signposted for parking.

One commenter on our website said: "This lay-by needs removing, it is way too close to the junction. I use this turn off a number of times every week and I have seen maybe four or five times a car pull into it expecting it to be the turn off and then have to swerve back onto the carriageway."

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Dani Harvey said on Facebook: "I've seen many cars very nearly turn into the lay-by thinking it was the slip road, I've nearly done it myself, awful. Maybe something will be done about it now?"

The lay-by on the A38 just before the Ripley Junction is signposted, but many drivers say they are still caught out and think it's the exit slip road. (Image: Google).The lay-by on the A38 just before the Ripley Junction is signposted, but many drivers say they are still caught out and think it's the exit slip road. (Image: Google).
The lay-by on the A38 just before the Ripley Junction is signposted, but many drivers say they are still caught out and think it's the exit slip road. (Image: Google).

Martin Hollingsworth said the accident was: "Totally avoidable and the lay-by needs to be shut as the design is poor and seen many a near miss there because it is to close to the junction.

Martin Walters said: "The lay-by needs to be closed it's an accident waiting to happen... I've seen people drive into it then swerve straight back out into oncoming traffic, I live in Ripley and seen it a few times in front of me."

Related topics:RipleyA38MotoristsNottinghamFacebook