SERIOUS accidents on the notorious stretch of the A36 through Wellow have been brought to a dramatic halt since the introduction of controversial speed cameras.

Work on the cameras got under way a year ago this month and since then, there has not been a single accident involving death or injury. There has also been a massive drop in the number of speeding motorists.

In the five years before the cameras were installed - from April 1998 to April 2003 inclusive - there were 14 serious collisions in which people were killed or seriously injured and a total of 45 collisions in which some form of injury was suffered. Five people died in collisions during that period and an alarming 61 were injured, 13 of them seriously.

But matters came to a head in June last year when two people died and 12 were injured in a crash involving a minibus, a lorry and six cars. Following that tragedy, speed cameras went in and there has not been a single serious injury accident since.

Speeds have also gone down dramatically and a spokesperson at the Safety Camera Partnership based at Hampshire County Council's offices at Winchester said that before the cameras were installed, 59 per cent of drivers were exceeding the speed limit. Since the introduction, that has fallen sharply to just 10 per cent. He said in a statement: "The Safety Camera Partnership is extremely pleased that the camera on the A36 has been so effective at reducing both speeds and casualties.

"We are keen, however, that the users of the road do not become complacent and would appeal to the small minority that are still driving too fast to follow the example of the majority and drive at an appropriate speed well within the limit. This will make the road safer and more pleasant to use and will continue to ensure that the misery and pain caused to accident victims and their friends and families is prevented.

"Both the speed limit and the fact that the road is protected by cameras is clearly signed and the signs should alert people to the fact that the road has had a higher than usual level of casualties. No one should be speeding on that stretch of road."

One of the prominent campaigners for a package of safety measures on the accident-wracked road was Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, who said: "This is brilliant news, but I'm not complacent about it and we do need the additional safety measures which still have to be installed.

"But I have noticed that the traffic through Wellow has been travelling more slowly. Previously, I was consciously keeping my speed down, but when I go along that stretch now, I don't have to think about it so much because the vehicle in front is normally obeying the speed limit.

"And this does indicate that speed cameras are not just a revenue-earner. They take a lot of flak, but this shows that they serve a useful purpose."