A MAN who suffered serious injuries – and has ongoing health problems – after being hit by a car on Peaks Parkway has backed plans for new speed cameras to be introduced.
As reported, average speed cameras will be installed along the 30mph stretch of the road in an attempt to cut the number of accidents after it was revealed 100 people have been injured there in the past five years.
One person supporting the plans is Chris Knights, 41, of Grimsby, who suffered a catalogue of injuries when he was hit by a car on Peaks Parkway on September 7.
He said: "I got a call from my partner's son to say his car had broken down and he thought he'd run out of petrol.
"He was parked on the hard shoulder near the back of the YMCA building and I had been to get petrol from Tesco so I pulled up on the hard shoulder on the opposite side of the road.
"The traffic is always busy down there so I got to the middle of the road and was waiting on the white lines when a car hit me. I remember hitting the windscreen and flying across the road.
"They wanted to airlift me to Hull but because I'd remained conscious they took me to the Diana, Princess Of Wale Hospital, in Grimsby, instead.
"I had to have an operation to reconstruct my pelvis and I was in hospital for six days."
Chris' injuries included four fractures in his femur, fractures to his pelvis, cuts to his head and shoulders, and damage to his elbow, which will require further surgery in the future.
Although the incident took place inside the 50mph zone, he believes that his injuries may not have been so serious if the 30mph limit had been enforced.
He explained: "As soon as people reach the traffic lights on the way towards Waltham, they speed off and ignore the 30mph signs.
"If cars were forced to do 30mph for longer it would mean they wouldn't get up to such high speeds on the stretch where I was injured.
"I think average speed cameras in particular are very fair because if you do need to speed up to overtake a moped or something you can still bring your average back down.
"There have been a lot of accidents down there so anything that can be done to reduce the risk of somebody else getting injured is a bonus."
Chris' partner Jo Shipp said: "I agree with the speed cameras being introduced as Chris would have not been so badly injured if the car was travelling at a slower speed.
"The aftermath of an accident like Chris had is terrible, not just for him but for family as well.
"He has a long road to recovery ahead and there are difficulties to face such as his care and the financial strain, but the worst thing for me has been seeing the man I love in so much pain.
"Surely, slower speeds in urban areas can help to prevent this happening to anyone else."
As reported, the cameras will be placed between Frederick Ward Way and Peaks Tunnel Bridge, and will measure a driver's speed at certain points to calculate an average speed. They will not be immediately enforcable, with the initial aim being to collect data, but will be in the future.
Barry Gardner, Humberside Police casualty reduction officer, said: "Inappropriate speed is a common factor in the collisions that have happened on this stretch of road.
"Traditional speed enforcement is not straightforward along this route and we have had to look at ways of using technology to its best effect."
Work to install the cameras will begin on Monday and they are expected to be introduced by early 2013.
