A killer road in Ryedale may again come under scrutiny by road chiefs following safety fears.

The A64 from Malton to Crambeck Bridge - including the notorious Golden Hill - was the subject of a massive make-over earlier this year to reduce accidents and road deaths.

Last year the A64 at Golden Hill claimed the lives of two teenagers and weeks later a pensioner, all from Thornton-le-Dale.

The success of the project is still being monitored but so far there have been few accidents and no deaths.

But members of the Ryedale Area Committee want further improvements.

A report to the area committee, which meets next week, expresses concern at the lack of street lighting and the closure of an unofficial lay-by at the Huttons Ambo junction.

"At the January meeting of the committee it was explained that the provision of street lighting over a short distance close to the junction could potentially increase accident risk," says the report.

"This is due to the inability of a driver's eyesight to readily adjust to the rapid changes in the level of illumination.

"A longer length of highway lighting would lessen this risk but following an inspection of the latest five-year injury accident record there were insufficient numbers of night-time accidents to justify the expense."

The report says that committee members who were also concerned at the introduction of restricted access at the Huttons Ambo junction.

The committee will be asked to back a proposal to request that the Highways Agency provides a further report on the improvements and their effectiveness in time for the October meeting of the committee.

Updated: 08:38 Wednesday, June 27, 2001