A top safety expert has praised a £2.1m National Highways scheme to cut collisions on a key route across Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire with lower speed limits and average speed cameras.

Work started on Monday (27 January ) on a five-mile section of the A5 between Thorn Roundabout near Dunstable and Little Brickhill on the outskirts of Milton Keynes.

The safety scheme features the installation of seven average speed safety cameras and associated signage and sections of the road will have their speed limit reduced from 60mph to 50mph.

According to National Highways, 44 injury collisions were recorded on this route over a five-year period with 95 casualties.

Project manager Niamh McGrath said: ‘Collision data shows the A5 is a high-risk A-road in the region. Our work has identified sections where we believe safety improvements can be made.

‘These changes to the speed limit will reduce the frequency and severity of collisions which helps keep traffic flowing and creates safer roads for everyone.'

Dr Suzy Charman, executive director at the Road Safety Foundation, told Highways: ‘Schemes that reduce traffic speeds to safer, more survivable levels can significantly enhance road safety.

‘Lower vehicle speeds not only decrease the likelihood of collisions by allowing more time for thinking and reaction but also greatly improve the chances of survival in the event of a collision.

‘We welcome speed management as a vital strategy in reducing fatalities and serious injuries across the strategic road network.'

According to National Highways' 2022 road safety performance overview, the rate of killed and seriously injured casualties on single carriageway A roads is more than double the rate on dual carriageway A roads.

The document notes that single carriageways A roads on the strategic road network present additional challenges, with the increased potential for head-on collisions and collisions resulting from right turn manoeuvres across live traffic.

The works will primarily be carried out on weekday nights, usually between 8pm and 6am, although some weekend works may also be required and all laybys between Thorn and Little Brickhill will be closed for the duration of the works for safety reasons.

Work on the project is expected to be completed by the summer.