By Patrick LowmanHIGHWAYS bosses are carrying out a major assessment of safety on a stretch of road where a young motorcyclist was killed.The study, relating to the A1092 between Long Melford and Baythorn End, is being carried out as part of Suffolk County Council's drive to reduce the number of deaths on the roads.

By Patrick Lowman

HIGHWAYS bosses are carrying out a major assessment of safety on a stretch of road where a young motorcyclist was killed.

The study, relating to the A1092 between Long Melford and Baythorn End, is being carried out as part of Suffolk County Council's drive to reduce the number of deaths on the roads.

Matthew Poulson, 25, from Sudbury, was killed on Saturday when his 600cc motorcycle was involved in a collision with a red Vauxhall Astra estate on the A1092.

The accident happened as Mr Poulson attempted to negotiate a sharp bend just outside Clare.

The latest fatality takes the number killed on the stretch of road to four since 2001, while nine serious and 51 minor accidents have also happened on the A1092 during the same time period.

The bend where Mr Poulson lost his life, a 60mph zone between Clare and Cavendish, is just one of the areas along a 10-mile stretch of the A1092 where road experts are considering introducing new safety measures to cut the death toll.

Highways bosses are currently halfway through the assessment and the council has already carried out junction work at Skates Hill in Glemsford and installed mobile speed cameras east of Cavendish.

Officials are now considering introducing a 40mph zone close to the bend where Mr Poulson lost his life. Speed reduction measures are also being investigated further along the road at Stoke-by-Clare.

Suffolk County Council's traffic and safety manager, David Chinnery, said: “In light of last year's poor fatal accident figures, we are looking at ways to reduce the number of road casualties.

“In regards to the latest fatal accident at the weekend, we will be looking at the circumstances to see if there are any concerns.

“We are carrying out an assessment of the A1092 and we are considering introducing a buffer 40mph zone between Cavendish and Clare. If the case is proved for the work, we hope to have it included in next year's budget.”

Leslie Warmington, county councillor for Clare, said: “We need some sort of traffic management on the A1092, it is a narrow road and vehicles travel at a high speed.

“But having said that, motorists need to take more responsibility for themselves too.”

Mr Poulson lived in Sudbury for most of his life and attended Woodhall Primary, Uplands Middle and Sudbury Upper Schools, later working for local firm A and B Glass. His family were unavailable for comment yesterday.

Suffolk police appealed for anyone with information on the accident, which happened at about 3.15pm to contact Pc Yvette Arondel on 01284 774153.

patrick.lowman@eadt.co.uk