TRAFFIC police are urging drivers to pay more attention to road signs following an accident on the A31 at the Hen and Chicken at Froyle on Monday when a local motorist collided with a recently installed traffic bollard.

The bollard in question is part of a new road layout scheme, designed to improve safety at what has become an accident blackspot.

MondayÕs incident occurred at approximately 1-30 pm when a Peugeot 106, travelling in the Farnham direction along the eastbound carriageway of the A31, was overtaking a Vauxhall Cavalier and collided with a bollard near to the Mill Court cross-over point.

The driver of the Peugeot, a 77-year-old woman from Newton Valence, sustained minor injuries and was taken for treatment to the Royal Surrey County Hospital at Guildford.

The driver of the Vauxhall, a 65-year-old woman from Epsom in Surrey, was uninjured.

The eastbound carriageway of the A31 was closed for about half an hour to enable removal of the vehicles to take place.

Following the incident, Whitehill traffic management officer Pc Eric Martin has stressed the need for drivers to be constantly aware that signage and road layout could change on any road, and that it is just as important to be aware of signage along those roads you drive everyday as on unfamiliar routes.

ÒIt is very easy for drivers to drive the same way they always have down a stretch of road and then be caught out when changes are made. It is always better to err on the side of caution and read the signs,Ó said Pc Martin who also pointed out that it is illegal to drive over on-road hatching bounded by a solid white line.

He believes all drivers would benefit from taking a fresh look at the Highway Code to brush up on road signage, which may well have changed or new ones introduced since they took their driving tests.

ÒThe new road layout at the Hen and Chicken was installed by Hampshire County Council, in full consultation with myself and Froyle Parish Council, with a view to reducing the serious and fatal incidents we have had in the past at that junction, and is perfectly well signed,Ó said Pc Martin, who confirmed that there was still more work to be carried out to complete the scheme.

In future there will be only one crossing point either way across the dual carriage way to access Froyle and Mill Court.

For drivers wishing to turn right from the Froyle turning to join the Alton-bound carriageway the only way forward will be to make a right turn in front of the pub and to cross the road by the garage.

Alton-bound traffic wishing to turn right at the Hen and Chicken will be able to do so only at the Froyle turning.

The idea, according to Pc Martin, is to clear up any confusion by ensuring that everybody crossing in the same direction does so at the same point on the road.

These new arrangements will be installed pending the successful completion of a traffic order.