A420 Oxford to Swindon (that's an exciting title isn't it)

by **martine** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:08 pm

On the way back from the GP yesterday my satnav took me along the above mentioned road. Lovely surface, many open sweeping bends, relatively quiet but mile after mile of 50 speed limit - how frustrating was that?

Most drivers were sticking to it with bunches of traffic and no one able to overtake (or even those willing to break the law didn't as there were no 'landing places' in between the vehicles.

Is this an over zealous local counci or is this road more dangerous than it looks?

by **jont** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:13 pm

Like you, I've almost been bored to sleep on that road while sticking to the 50 limit. Most of the real crunch points seem to be camera'd, so the speed limits to me seem unnecessary. However I've noticed Oxforshire seems one of the worst counties for creeping lower limits where there really doesn't seem to be any need for them

by **7db** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:39 pm

Duh - why go that way?

Wantage, Newbury, Marlborough, Avebury, Swindon.
or
Witney, Bampton, Farringdon, Lechlade, Swindon.

by **Jack Russell** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:41 pm

I used to live in Witney so know this road well, I always though it was quite fast and open.

However it was often in the local press as 'The Road to Hell', as it has a bad accident rate.

I think the rate is high due to the high number of lorries using it as an M4 to A34 connecton, then cars coming to grief trying to overtake.

by **jont** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:47 am

7db wrote:Wantage, Newbury, Marlborough, Avebury, Swindon.

is twice as long, and sometimes you actually want to reach a destination rather than spend all day driving

7db wrote:Witney, Bampton, Farringdon, Lechlade, Swindon.

Looks a bit less convoluted - might try that next time I have to go that way.

by **7db** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:11 pm

jont wrote:...is twice as long, and sometimes you actually want to reach a destination rather than spend all day driving

/me looks askance at Jont. Are you feeling alright?

by **Gareth** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:33 pm

7db wrote:Witney, Bampton, Farringdon, Lechlade, Swindon.

From Farringdon, the B4019 to Highworth is more direct and a worthy road.

by **7db** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:06 pm

Good point. So many choices - what was the OP thinking?

by **ROG** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:48 pm

would you say that this road could safely accommodate LGVs at 50 and not 40?

by **Gareth** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:53 pm

ROG wrote:would you say that this road could safely accommodate LGVs at 50 and not 40?

For the most part, it probably does already! There seem to be so few LGVs that keep to 40 on single carriageways.

A420 Oxford to Swindon (that's an exciting title isn't it)

Who is online