Action to tackle irresponsible driving on notorious North Wales route welcomed

Action to tackle irresponsible driving on notorious North Wales route welcomed

Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has welcomed news that a group is to be established to look at all aspects of road safety on a 20-mile stretch of road in Conwy County which is attracting dangerous drivers from around the UK.

In July Darren called on the Welsh Government to take action to stop the glamorisation of the route, dubbed the Evo-Triangle, which consists of three roads which link Pentrefoelas and Cerrigydrudion, including a stretch of the A5, near Denbigh Moors.

Speaking in the Senedd, he expressed concern that as well as being promoted in motoring magazine Evo, the route is branded and promoted on t-shirts and merchandise and online as a race track.

This week, Darren received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, stating that a Task and Finish Group is to be set up to look at all aspects of road safety on this stretch in partnership.

The letter states: “The majority of the Evo Triangle is county road network and therefore not directly under our control. However, our Road Safety Framework for Wales advocates a multi-agency approach to improving road safety and it is that approach which is crucial here.

“As the police, Go Safe, Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council are already working together to look at road safety in this area, I have asked my officials to formalise these discussions in a task and finish group. This group will be able to look at all aspects of road safety in partnership.”

Darren said:

“I very much welcome this news. Safety along this stretch has been deteriorating as a result of the glamorisation of this route to irresponsible motorists. There are YouTube videos encouraging people to go and visit and petrol heads to gather in order to speed around this route and there are gaming companies which are also doing versions of this within their games in order to encourage people to visit.

“I am so pleased that the Welsh Government will be working with the police, Denbighshire County Council and Go Safe to tackle this problem and make this route safer.

“We have seen enough fatalities, accidents and near misses on these roads over the years, hopefully this partnership working will ensure we don’t see anymore.”