A width restriction in Watford, Hertfordshire, has become a persistent hazard for drivers, with a local resident documenting numerous collisions with roadside bollards. Tim Vigor, who has lived on Woodmere Avenue for 30 years, has captured footage of cars repeatedly crashing into the bollards, which he says has caused significant damage to vehicles and his property.
The restriction has been in place for years, initially to prevent large lorries from using the residential street as a shortcut. Despite modifications over time, including a redesign in 2022 and the installation of an ANPR camera to enforce bus lane usage, drivers continue to misjudge the narrow passage. Vigor's doorbell and CCTV cameras have recorded hundreds of incidents, ranging from cars losing wing mirrors and tires to vehicles becoming wedged between the bollards or even rolling over.
Vigor estimates that for a decade prior to recent changes, there were at least two accidents daily on the stretch of road between the A41 and Bushey Mill Lane. He claims the cumulative damage to vehicles over this period could amount to millions of pounds. His own property has suffered repeated damage to walls and has been littered with debris and glass from the collisions.
"It has just been chaos," Vigor stated. "The people who are responsible for it are just not interested. They don't care."
Hertfordshire County Council acknowledged that accident numbers have decreased since the 2022 redesign and the ANPR camera installation. A council spokesperson urged motorists to "follow the signage in place and drive carefully through the restrictions."
However, Vigor remains unconvinced that the current measures are sufficient. He has advocated for the ANPR camera to be used as the primary deterrent for all vehicles, issuing tickets to those who contravene the restriction, rather than relying on the narrow bollards. He has also expressed frustration that, despite discussions with MPs, the bollards are not slated for removal. Vigor believes that wider consultation with residents should have taken place before the current bollard system was installed and worries that action will only be taken if a serious injury or fatality occurs.