‘Dangerous’ Long Furlong needs safety rethink after tragic crash

Northbrook County Councillor Robin Rogers believes the A280 Long Furlong would benefit from double white lines, banning overtaking on most of the winding road.

West Sussex County Council scrapped 11 road improvement schemes last January, to Mr Rogers’ disappointment.

He said: “Any death is unfortunate but I do think West Sussex County Council really needs to look at these bad junctions and roads that need some improvement.

“When there is an accident at Long Furlong, it is generally always bad. It can be a dangerous road.”

Mr Rogers, a former driving instructor, said he often had problems with ‘idiots’ overtaking learners on the road.

The cause of the collision on the A280, which killed Robert and Janice O’Keeffe, of Cheam Road, Rustington, on October 24, has yet to be revealed.

However, friends of the couple were adamant that both the pensioners were ‘safe drivers’.

Speaking to the Gazette last week, Pam Warren, 72 – who had known the pair since they moved to Rustington four years ago – said: “(Robert) was a really excellent driver. He drove all over the continent. He really was a safe driver, in my view.”

Sussex Police is still investigating the collision.

Suggesting solutions which could improve road safety, Mr Rogers said: “It needs low- cost traffic-calming measures in the form of white lines. That’s all it really needs.

“There are a couple of bad bends on the road where it would be beneficial. Most people respect the white lines.”

In response to the calls, a spokesman from West Sussex County Council said there was strict criteria when considering installing double white lines (DWLs), as set by the Department for Transport.

He said: “The introduction of lines that do not comply with DfT guidance, for example, where there is adequate forward visibility, would do nothing to improve road safety.

“Motorists would still suffer from the frustration of being stuck behind slow moving vehicles and, as they do not always obey restrictions, there would certainly be some who would continue to overtake.”