HAMPSHIRE County Council is considering installing crash barriers along sections of the A31, in an effort to help prevent accidents like the one that killed three people on September 18 of this year.

The county, along with Hampshire Police, are in the process of conducting a feasibility study of crash barriers at four sites along the notorious road.

One of these sites has been confirmed as the exact place where Patrick ÔPaddyÕ Varnam (36) from Selborne, and David Andrews (16) and Lynne Spooner (41) from Aldershot, were tragically killed.

The accident happened when the MGF driven by Mrs Spooner lost control and crossed the central reservation, colliding with the oncoming Ford Sierra being driven by Mr Varnam.

Mr Varnam died of severe head injuries, and mother and son Mr Andrews and Mrs Spooner, were killed when their vehicle caught fire.

At the recent inquest into the deaths, police crash investigation officer Pc David Jenkins, said that if the section of the A31 in Froyle had been fitted with crash barriers, then one or more of the lost lives would have been saved.

Pc Jenkins has since said: ÒThere have been a number of collisions on the A31, and there have been three fatal accidents in the last two years that I can remember, that have involved a vehicle crossing the central reservation.

ÒOn the section of road in question, it seems a bit crazy that there are sections of the central reservation that have trees as well as crash barriers, and some sections that have nothing at all. That just doesnÕt make sense.

ÒIf barriers had been fitted to the section of road where the crash took place, then the MGF driven by Mrs Spooner could not have crossed the central reservation and the collision could not have taken place.

ÒThis means that Mr VarnamÕs life would certainly have been saved, and Mr Andrews and Mrs Spooner would have had a substantially better chance of survival.

Pc Eric Martin of Whitehill Traffic Police, said: ÒI have conducted a feasibility study into crash barriers on the A31, along with officers from the road safety department of Hampshire County Council, and we have identified four points on the road that we think should possibly have barriers. I can confirm that one of the points in question is the location of the fatal accident on September 18.

ÒIf a car has crossed over the central reservation at this location, there is obviously a problem there that needs to be addressed.

ÒThe reason that crash barriers are absent along some sections of the road is that barriers werenÕt a requirement when the road was built.

ÒIn conducting the study, we had to look at why a vehicle on a certain stretch of road might lose control; if there is a particularly fast bend or if there is a junction or something like that.

ÒThe A31 does seem to have a lot of accidents, the vast majority of which are caused by excessive speed for the road and its conditions.

ÒWith the accident on September 18, it is not clear why the car lost control and crossed the central reservation, but I can confirm that the accident was a factor in our decision-making process.

ÒThe proposals have been taken away by the county council. The next step is that they will consider the financial issues and the practicality issues involved. Barriers have to be placed a certain distance away from the carriageway, so it is possible that their installation in some locations may not be practical.

ÒIt is easy to say that a road needs crash barriers, but it is not as easy as that. At the end of the day, it is Hampshire County CouncilÕs decision as to whether or not barriers are installed, I am merely here to advise.

ÒI would think that any action taken as a result of this feasibility study will be taken within the next financial year, but I stress that this is only an estimate.Ó

A statement issued by Hampshire County Council, said: ÒA feasibility study is being carried out at the moment, with the help of the police. It was initiated by the East Hampshire Road Safety Council, and a report will be made to that body in the new year.

ÒWeÕre currently looking in more detail at four sections of the A31 regarding installation of crash barriers. This accident site is one of them. Funding for any work would come from the capital budget of the county councilÕs local transport plan. However, it is too early to say what action might be taken in respect of these four sites, and the cost implications.

ÒThis is a far more complex issue than people may consider, and it is not simply a case of installing crash barriers along the whole of the A31 (a measure that would be extremely expensive). The police have been involved in the feasibility study and appreciate the complexities that the county council faces.

ÒIn any event, crash barriers will not necessarily prevent fatalities or casualties. Further studies may be commissioned at a later stage to look into certain aspects in more detail.Ó