Road safety campaigners slam van driver at busy demo
A van driver was forced to retreat after being scolded for entering the wrong side of Kings Heath High Street[1] at a road safety protest today, June 18. Campaigners chanted "shame on you" at the motorist who dangerously overtook traffic in an apparent bid to bypass the demo which had brought vehicles to temporary standstills.
He eventually reversed away from the scene after tensions boiled over. Today's rally saw hundreds of protesters line the high street, outside Asda[2], to call for improved road safety.
The emotionally-charged protest was organised by Better Streets for Birmingham in the wake of a spate of serious crashes in the city which left children injured or dead. Campaigners, many of whom are cyclists, met at the crossing of where a woman and a child were struck by a car last week[3] in a hit-and-run incident.
It is also the spot where 13-year-old Hope Fennell was tragically killed after being hit by a lorry 11 years ago. Campaigners showed solidarity with crash victims by holding a minute's silence in the middle of the road.
Speakers called on Birmingham City Council[5] and West Midlands Police[6] to act before another person is killed or seriously injured. They also encouraged people to lobby their councillors and MPs.
Shivaji Shiva, of Better Streets for Birmingham, said: "We're demanding the council recognises this situation for the emergency that it is, and to use all the powers it has to address it.
"We want to see a serious police response to the extraordinarily bad driving causing immense strain on our streets. We want that action - and we'd like to see it now."
Protesters confronted the van driver during the rally in Kings Heath High Street (Image: BirminghamLive)
Kings Heath resident Niki Turner said: “I’m so upset that yet more people have been injured recently on our roads. We’re demanding better road safety and calling for careless and dangerous drivers to take responsibility, finally.
“We need action from our council to improve our road infrastructure and ensure no more people are hurt by those tin machines.” Jennifer, who cycles to and from work in Kings Heath every day, said: “To be honest with you, we’re fed up with drivers thinking they own the streets.
"It does not belong to them and them alone. We all have to co-exist comfortably and safely together but that’s not happening at the minute.
Protesters in Kings Heath calling for safer roads today
“My thoughts are with the two people who were hurt here the other day. It’s absolutely gut-wrenching to know a child is currently lying in hospital.”
Megan, 33, a librarian, used to cycle daily but had been scared off the roads by aggressive drivers coming too close. She added: "You can feel the hostility towards cyclists and it is terrifying. I stopped because I felt it was not a case of if I got hurt but when."
Stay up to date with the very latest from your Birmingham or West Midlands street or neighbourhood with our Birmingham News[7]
References
- ^ Kings Heath High Street (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Asda (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ struck by a car last week (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham Better Streets protest live as road safety campaigners clash with van driver (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Midlands Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham News (www.birminghammail.co.uk)