Action demanded on dangerous road that's claimed six lives

Somerset Council has announced it is moving forward its plans to improve road safety on the A361 Frome bypass, with six people having died in fatal crashes over the last five years.

The council is launching a consultation on the proposal to reduce the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on the road, used by around 15,000 motorists a day.

Plans for a 50mph speed limit and engineering works would form part of the package to improve safety along the bypass. AI cameras were installed last year to monitor speed, seatbelt wearing and mobile phone use.

A spokesperson said that once the traffic regulation order for the change is advertised, and subject to any objections being resolved, a scheme to implement the reduced speed limit would tie into the proposals for resurfacing work at the junction, currently planned from 7 to 20 May. Evening closure would be put in place and widely advertised.

Crews from Frome Fire Station helped rescue a person trapped in their vehicle after a crash on the road last year. (Image: Frome Fire Station)

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste, said: “We are developing further plans for making this road safer with an improved road surface, and measures to reduce traffic speeds through the proposed speed limit and introduction of central hatching to reduce the road width, where feasible.

“We are also looking at carrying out a significant vegetation cutback to help further improve the visibility at the junction. The road markings will be more visible and make a slight noise warning when driven over.

“We share the concerns of the community about the number of incidents on this stretch of road. Driver behaviour contributes to around 90 per cent of serious road collisions we would urge all drivers – if you are getting behind the wheel of a car please act responsibly.”

In November last year, Somerset Council said its AI cameras had picked up more than 4,500 offences between March and July 2025 including 4,407 incidents of no seat belt being worn, 74 speeding offences clocked at over 80 mph and 119 instances of mobile phone use.

According to the BBC, four people lost their lives in crashes on the A361 in 2024, including a woman in her 20s in April, two women on Marston Road south of Frome in May, and a man in a crash between a motorbike and a lorry in August.