NEW safety measures could be in the pipeline for the A325 after another fatal accident on the notorious road.

The latest collision took place on the northbound carriageway half-way between the Sleaford traffic lights and the Half Way public house at Bucks Horn Oak bringing rush-hour traffic to a standstill.

Kenneth Manners (57) of Keable Road, Wrecclesham, was on his motorcycle when it collided with a green Honda Civic travelling in the same direction at 5-38 pm last Thursday.

The driver of the Honda, a 60-year-old woman from Alton, escaped injury but Mr Manners suffered serious chest injuries and was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital where he later died.

He was on his way home from work at Runfold Plastics in Passfield at the time of the accident.

An inquest into the father-of-threeÕs death will take place on January 14 next year.

Police say that the large number of accidents on the road has prompted Hampshire County Council to examine new safety measures for the stretch of the A325 north of Bordon.

Traffic management officer Pc Eric Martin said: ÒHampshire County Council is going to be looking at the whole of that stretch of road up to the county border next year and putting in a whole new safety scheme.Ó

Mr Manners is the second motorist to die in a collision on the A325 between Frith End and Bucks Horn Oak this year.

In February Steven Smith (45) of Arford Common died when his Ford XR3i left the carriageway and collided with a tree.

There have also been a number of other serious accidents on the road north of Bordon this year.

In July a motorcyclist suffered serious injuries after being involved in a rush-hour crash with a Peugeot at Holt Pound.

And in April five people - including two children - were injured in a three-car collision on the A325 at Bucks Horn Oak.

The large number of accidents has led police officers to maintain their view that the A325 is the most dangerous road in east and central Hampshire.

The key to reducing the number of accidents on the road is slowing traffic down because speed is the primary cause of a large number of collisions.

Any new measures will complement the policeÕs attempts to reduce speeding with mobile cameras which have been used along the A325 for six years.

ÒThe great thing about mobile cameras is that we can move them around and tackle specific areas where there is a problem,Ó Pc Martin said.

ÒSometimes the problem with static cameras is that motorists get to know that they are in a certain location and will only slow down to pass them and then speed up again.Ó

New measures will also add to the speed limit changes from 60 mph to 50 and 40 mph which Hampshire Council Council imposed on the A325 from Bucks Horn Oak to Wrecclesham last year.

Efforts are also ongoing to make the small section of the A325 in Surrey safer, especially targeting Wrecclesham bridge where numerous lorries have been involved in accidents, including a fatal accident last year.

In the past year 19 people have lost their lives on east and central HampshireÕs roads - a third of the whole countyÕs total - and 14 per cent of the total number of HampshireÕs road deaths in the past year were motorcyclists.

Hampshire ConstabularyÕs Traffic Division is hoping that its new Winter Driving Campaign, launched today (Friday) will also help keep motorists safe.

Traffic officers will be stopping vehicles to ensure lights, tyres and brakes, are in good working order. They will also be checking that windscreens are free from ice and conducting seat belt and speed checks.

Casualty reduction manager Sergeant Kory Thorne said: ÒWinter driving is extremely demanding owing to adverse weather conditions and drivers must ensure their vehicles are prepared to handle the winter elements.

ÒIf your vehicle is not road-worthy you could face prosecution.

ÒDrivers also need to adjust their driving to meet the prevailing conditions, it may not be appropriate to drive at the posted speed limit as this speed could be too high in poor conditions.

ÒWe much prefer offering advice to motorists than delivering tragic news to a family that their loved one has been killed or seriously injured.Ó

r Anyone with any information about last weekÕs accident on the A325 is asked to contact Sergeant Wayne Voller at Cosham traffic on 0845 045 45 45.