A drugs firm has taken matters into its own hands after workers complained about a dangerous junction would lead to someone being killed outside their workplace.

Employees have lobbied for action to be taken over the junction, between Armstrong Road and Sandford Road, outside Japanese firm Yamanouchi at Littlemore Park, Oxford.

And now the firm has heeded their warning and has put up a large reflective sign near the Armstrong Road lights warning motorists to take careof the dangers.

The firm decided with incidents still occurring it was vital motorists were aware of the problem and have erected a sign reading "Warning! Dangerous Junction. Main Road traffic Ignores Red Lights. Take Care and Stay Safe!"

Nigel Wild, the company's business manager, said since the junction was created in 1996 there had been two accidents and numerous near-misses, caused by motorists ignoring the red lights in Sandford Road.

In the first accident some months ago, a Yamanouchi employee's car was written off. In the second, a week ago, both cars involved were written off and the drivers taken to hospital. MrYamanouchi's business manager Nigel Wild said: "The volume of traffic using Armstrong Road is increasing all the time and will rise still further this year with new businesses on the park.

"We try to warn our own visitors, but we cannot speak to every driver. We hope that our sign will help to avert any further accidents whilst the council makes up its mind about taking some positive steps."

Mr One of the drivers, Miss Katy Robinson, who works for Yamanouchi escaped with serious bruising and shock but is still off work as a result.

Yamanouchi and the NHS, the owners of Littlemore Park, have complained to Oxfordshire County Council and the Police.

Mr Wild said that although the council has made changes to the lights these have had no effect. He explained most of the problems come from traffic driving from Littlemore towards Sandford. The traffic lights are just after a left-hand bend and the speed limit increases from 30mph to 40mph immediately before. He said drivers know that the lights on Sandford Road are mostly green and so they take a chance and shoot through the lights, often at speeds of more than 50mph.

Mr Wild said as the junction is set back, these drivers often do not realise the lights control a junction.

Steve Bowden, deputy area engineer at Oxfordshire County Council, suggested the solution would be to have a traffic light warning sign and another sign warning there was a junction.

He said another possibility would be to paint new road markings, to encourage drivers to slow down.

look as if the road had narrowed and so slow drivers down or extend the 30mph speed limit.

Story date: Monday 22 February

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