Village residents heartbroken over tragic coast road crashes

The B3157 Jurassic coast road from Weymouth to Bridport is popular as one of the 'most beautiful roads to drive in the UK' - but it is also a known hotspot for serious crashes, particularly for bikers.

Residents of Portesham say they are 'heartbroken' over the crashes, and some think more should be done to make the route safer.

Bruce Duckworth loves driving the route but thinks people who don't know the road need to take it slow. He said: "It is heartbreaking to hear a motorcycle go through the town and then 20 minutes later hear an ambulance follow.

"I think it is one of the most beautiful roads in the country. We all love the road but it's tricky, people do speed on it. 

"We love the road and we love the view, and so do other people. They just need to keep the speed down."

The road through Portesham itself is 30mph, though much of the coast road is 50mph (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Theresa Corr has been in the village for two years and says she has already noticed an increase in crashes. She said: "The road is a nightmare. Over the last two weeks, we have had two accidents.

"With the number of accidents we have had, something really needs to be done."

Portesham resident John Hensby said: "Quite a few of them (crashes) tend to involve motorcycles, particularly on Sundays.

"There is a lot of unnecessary speeding on the way to Weymouth."

John Hensby says people do speed on the route (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Linda Young is from Abbotsbury but works in Portesham, so she frequently travels the route. She said: "It is a treacherous road let's put it that way.

"Most people do respect the 30mph signs. The good thing about here and Abbotsbury is you do need to slow down to that speed because of the sharp bends, but not so much on the way to Swyre.

"Unless police have the resources to maybe monitor this road in the summer months the accidents on the road are just going to continue."

This sign in Portesham warns the route is a crash hot spot (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Steve James said: "I think they could trim the verges. Here if you are going around the bends you don't have a clear line of sight going in. It is a never-ending task really"

Cathy Hawker said: "It is awful when you hear these things happen when people lose their lives or end up in wheelchairs."

There have been numerous serious and fatal crashes on the coast road already this summer, though these are still under investigation.

There is no suggestion speed was a factor in any of these incidents.

A biker, Lee Stephen Adams, 29, of Weymouth, died in a crash on the coast road at Abbotsbury Hill.

On June 10, a biker was in serious condition following a crash between Portesham and Chickerell. Fire engines, ambulances and an air ambulance were called to the scene.