NORFOLK'S worst accident black spots were revealed yesterday as police insisted that, in many cases, it was the drivers not the roads that were dangerous.

NORFOLK'S worst accident black spots were revealed yesterday as police insisted that, in many cases, it was the drivers not the roads that were dangerous.

A total of eight roads across the county have been identified as high-risk due to the number of collisions recorded over the last six months.

Two - in Horsford and Upper Sheringham - remain on the list from the previous six months, meaning they remain a persistent problem.

In many, driver error, such as poor overtaking and failing to give way, was to blame for the cluster of accidents. People were injured in all of the incidents recorded.

Casualty reduction officer Michael Edney said: “The number of people killed and seriously injured on Norfolk's roads is steadily declining. However, we are not complacent and continue to strive to reduce this number further.

“The aim is to consistently reduce the number of black spots. Last time we listed nine roads, now it's down to eight and hopefully next time it will be six.

“By highlighting them in this way, it allows us to take a closer look at the roads to see if they can be made safer. But it also alerts the public to the potential risk and should encourage them to think twice about their decisions and drive more carefully.

“If you look at some of the roads, they are wide and with clear views. This suggests the accidents are due to driver behaviour and often impatience. There is only so much we can do to improve safety and motorists also have to do their bit.”

The roads included on the list are:

- The Reepham Road/Hall Lane junction at Horsford, where two serious crashes and one slight collision were recorded. Most incidents involved vehicles turning right to join the main road colliding head-on with oncoming vehicles.

- The A148/B1157 at Upper Sheringham where there were one serious and three slight collisions. Problems were caused by vehicles failing to give way and turning right on to and off the main road.

- The A143 outside the Old Rectory in Fritton and St Olaves where there were one serious and two slight collisions. Most involved dangerous overtaking.

- The Colman Road/Unthank Road junction in Norwich where there were five slight collisions. Problem manoeuvres included tail end collisions and those joining the main road.

- The A1074 Dereham Road/William Frost Way roundabout at Costessey where there were one serious and two slight collisions. These included a driver losing control on the roundabout and a tail end collision.

- The A47/Beighton White House junction and Lingwood and Burlingham where there were one serious and two slight collisions. These included tail end collisions and one involving a vehicle joining from the right.

- Sandringham Road/Park Road in Hunstanton where there were two serious crashes and one slight collison. These mainly involved vehicles failing to give way.

- The Loke Road/Columbia Way/Raby Avenue roundabout in King's Lynn where there were one serious and two slight collisions. These involved people failing to give way when entering the roundabout.

Mr Edney added: “Working with the THINK Norfolk partnership, we recognise that saving lives and reducing injuries through better road safety can be brought about by a number of initiatives which include: changes to road layout where necessary, education, enforcement, road user skills and attitudes.”

Guy McCurley, Chair of the THINK Norfolk partnership, added: “The list of hotspots is collated using collision statistics, and I hope by highlighting these junctions to motorists, the record for each respective site lowers over the coming months.

“As a group we have a number of initiatives and campaigns running throughout the year targeted at road safety in Norfolk. One thing we can all do to make Norfolk's roads safer, though, is to be more alert to the increased danger at junctions, particularly when turning across the path of oncoming traffic.”