Is Oxfordshire County Council fully committed to providing safety barriers on Oxford's Eastern Bypass?

We ask because David Robertson, the Cabinet member for transport, appears to be wavering.

Five weeks ago, he told us that under council criteria, the case for barriers was "marginal", but that the accident in May in which four people, including three teenage boys, died, had swayed the decision.

Now he reveals that if the results of a feasibility study, now under way on the bypass, push up the costs too much, the council might have to reconsider it.

There are fears that the cost of moving underground electricity cables and water and drainage pipes might be higher than expected.

We hope that does not happen.

The public have already spoken out strongly in favour of safety measures, with hundreds signing a petition.

The council has committed itself to the £600,000 project and must not be allowed to renege on its promise. It can expect a strong public backlash if that does happen.

Even at the current cost, barriers are expensive, but they will be worth every penny if only one life is saved.