Highways engineers are calling for a 50mph speed limit - enforced by cameras - on the A64 near York until the notorious gaps are closed.

A report to the City of York Council has revealed that there have been 36 accidents - three of them fatal - on the A64 at Top Lane, Copmanthorpe, in just four years.

The Government is now planning to scrap the traffic lights and close the gap in the central reservation.

The £2.1 million scheme for a new underpass at the lights has been welcomed by city council officials - but it will be at least two years before the scheme can be completed.

Now York highways officials have recommended councillors push for the speed limit to be reduced along the dual carriageway between Copmanthorpe and Tadcaster, in the interim.

They say the Highways Agency should be urged to impose a 50mph speed limit as soon as possible.

Planning and transport committee chairman Dave Merrett said today that the speed limit would help prevent accidents until the underpass was built.

"Clearly there is a very serious level of accidents along this stretch of road and the severity of the accidents is related to speed. Limiting speed has good potential to prevent more."

Last week there was another near-miss on the treacherous road. A York motorist told the Evening Press of his horror when an articulated lorry bore down on him as he sat helpless in his car at a junction.

"It was one of the most frightening episodes in my 37 years of motoring," said Malcolm Smith, of Wheldrake.

"I was stopped at the traffic lights and on glancing in my rear-view mirror I was horrified to see a 38-tonne articulated lorry bearing down on me with all its brakes locked and smoke pouring from under the trailer.

"The lorry skidded to a halt with only a few feet to spare.

"It made me realise how many vehicles have to stop on a busy dual carriageway just so one or two people can cross when there is a safer alternative exit only a few yards further along."

The proposals will be discussed at the council's planning and transport committee on Thursday.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said today they would study the council's proposals for a speed limit.

But he warned: "The basic feeling is that a 50mph speed limit on the A64 simply would not work because motorists would ignore it. We will of course look at the proposals, but the Highways Agency stance is not to introduce measures that motorists will just ignore."

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