Motorists who risk lives by using the central reservation on one of the Black Country’s busiest highways to perform U-turns now face prosecution.

Highways officials in Sandwell have decided to take action against drivers who regularly cross the centre of the dual carriageway Black Country New Road between Great Bridge and Wednesbury.

They are concerned that irresponsible U-turns on the busy £120 million super highway could have “disastrous consequences” for other drivers and passengers.

Motorists have been horrified at the number of times people turn right across the reservation to get into to factories and lorry depots on the busy stretch.

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

Motorists who risk lives by using the central reservation on one of the Black Country’s busiest highways to perform U-turns now face prosecution.

Highways officials in Sandwell have decided to take action against drivers who regularly cross the centre of the dual carriageway Black Country New Road between Great Bridge and Wednesbury.

They are concerned that irresponsible U-turns on the busy £120 million super highway could have “disastrous consequences” for other drivers and passengers.

Motorists have been horrified at the number of times people turn right across the reservation to get into to factories and lorry depots on the busy stretch.

Several Express & Star readers have called for action after spotting or being involved with “near misses” on the link between the M5 motorway at West Bromwich and Junction 10 of the M6 in Walsall.

Walsall Council cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said: “There is a problem with some motorists making U-turns at the new traffic signals on the A41 as a short cut to reach premises on the opposite lane of the dual carriageway.

“These manoeuvres, on such a busy stretch of road, could have disastrous consequences for other road users, so we are taking these legal steps to ban U-turns.”

The council has now drawn up a new highways regulation which is being publicised before prosecutions are taken out against the errant drivers.

One motorist said: “Some drivers have been turning right across the one-way dual carriageway into Power Way on a bend of the road. 

“People coming out of the Renault works and other works are turning right as they come out of there and I have seen two near misses.”

The driver had to brake suddenly when a vehicle had come across the carriageway from Power Road to turn right to Wednesbury.