Oldham road crash hotspot: 4 fatal crashes since 2015

Broadway through Chadderton, Royton and Failsworth has become a death trap for drivers, with four fatal crashes since 2015 and two serious incidents in just three days this month. Residents are demanding action after a 50-something man died in a three-car pile-up near Elk Mill Retail Park on March 18, following another crash three days earlier. The stretch of road, which includes the notorious Elk Mill roundabout, has seen drivers racing, jumping lights, and swapping lanes dangerously, with...

National Highways is installing 11 new speed and traffic light cameras along Broadway, but residents say this isn't enough. Councillor Christine Adams, who represents Royton North, said: 'We regularly see examples of driving at excess speed, 'jumping' traffic lights and switching lanes in a dangerous manner.' Her colleague Dave Arnott added that they've previously raised concerns about speeding along Broadway and Chadderton Way with both the council and police.

The road's ownership is split between Oldham Council and National Highways, with the council declining to comment on residents' safety concerns when approached by The Oldham Times. road safety data shows the area's crash history, with blue, amber and red markers indicating slight, severe and fatal incidents respectively. The map reveals a pattern of dangerous driving that residents say has made them fearful of using what should be a simple route through their community.

Previous tragedies include the death of 59-year-old Mark Armstrong in 2020, killed by a driver who 'treated the road like a race track', and teaching assistant Paul Bowles, who died after an argument on the road led to him being hit by a van. A recent TikTok video showed a learner driver's terror as another car drove the wrong way down Broadway near the Elk Mill roundabout, with a police car in pursuit. Residents living near the top end of the road report hearing vehicles racing at night, with...