SOMERSET County Council says it is investigating the number of collisions occurring on the bends between Bilbrook and Withycombe Straight.

Following an incident in which a car ended up upside-down at the side of the road on Saturday, September 3, the Gazette reported how a local business owner was calling for the council to look into the number of incidents on the notorious A39 stretch.

This week, yet another car ended up in the ditch there, following a crash on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We are aware of reports of collisions occurring on the A39 near Bilbrook, and have been investigating the condition of the road surface to establish whether surface treatment would be appropriate, and also whether the bends would benefit from further enhanced warning signs.

"Temporary warning signs have been on site since August and we are looking to undertake further surface treatment works during the week beginning October 17.

"We would always recommend that drivers travel at an appropriate speed so that they can respond to any potential hazards such as bends.”

The question over whether the number of accidents was caused by reckless driving or a dangerous road has divided opinion on the Gazette message boards this week.

Andy White from Watchet said: "It catches out drivers who don't know the corner. Most of them are visitors to the area. It does have an adverse camber. Most of the incidents occur after rain. When coming from Minehead the bend has a double apex which can also catch out the unwary.

"I've not had a problem with the bend in over 30 years of driving. But then I know it well. Maybe Highways need to test the friction coefficient of the road. The road surface will become polished over time and wet weather will make the situation far worse."

Kerry Noble commented: "There is a problem with the road surface on that bend, there have been so many accidents in that exact place, I know quite a few of the drivers are local people who know the road and have been driving sensibly and have just slid."

Another commenter, Dave White, said: "You cannot generalise. Each accident probably has several contributory factors whether it is age, familiarity of the road, wet or dry, speed, tyre type, condition and pressure, rear wheel, front wheel or four wheel drive, condition of suspension etc. The road, however, can catch you out if you are not familiar with the layout."