Residents have thrown their support behind a mum's campaign to improve the safety of a 'death trap' junction in south west London after she and her children came close to being killed.

Laura Kerry, 48, is calling on Transport for London (TfL) to make safety changes at St Margarets Roundabout on the A316, in Twickenham, as she fears it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

However TfL say it's not currently a priority.

Ms Kerry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) pedestrians and cyclists, particularly schoolchildren, face unsafe conditions at all four crossings of the 'nightmare' junction, leading to accidents and near misses. She said crossing times are too short at each lane, which leaves people waiting at each pedestrian island and vulnerable to accidents.

The barriers around each pedestrian island, she added, are not strong enough to protect people. Ms Kerry said: "It feels like an accident hotspot. Everyone you speak to says it's an accident waiting to happen; as in a fatality waiting to happen."

Laura Kerry has launched a Change.org petition urging TfL to address 'unacceptable dangers' of the junction (credit: Charlotte Lilywhite/LDRS).

A key concern is the busy crossing outside St Stephen's C of E Primary School, where Rosie Greaves and her three young children were nearly killed in January.

Ms Greaves, 39, was stuck at the pedestrian island with her daughters, aged one, four and seven at the time, when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed through the 'flimsy' barriers – narrowly missing them. Days afterwards, she was horrified to discover debris in her youngest child's pushchair.

Ms Greaves told the LDRS: "The man's eyes were closed, there was no swerving to avoid us. It was pure chance that we weren't completely mowed down and there was less than a metre in it."

The mum said she felt unsafe at the junction before the accident, and that she 'shudders almost every time' she crosses it now. "If this was a freak accident, like a one-off, you'd think 'oh gosh how unlucky'," she said.

"But so often those railings are down – there's been a crash into them. It feels like it's just such a frequent pattern and because it's right outside a school, you think it's only a matter of time before somebody is killed, and probably a child."

She added: "It's been neglected for far too long now and I think it's just a matter of time. If they don't do something, God forbid someone's going to pay with their lives."

The pedestrian island after Ms Greaves' accident in January (credit: Laura Kerry).

Ms Kerry launched a Change.org petition urging TfL to address 'unacceptable dangers' at all four crossings of the junction in October, which has already gained 1,558 signatures.

She told the LDRS parents feel in danger walking their children to school because of the junction, which is 'very wrong'.

The petition demands TfL adjusts traffic light phasing at the junction to allow pedestrians and cyclists enough time to cross safely, strengthens the barriers and reduces the speed limit to 30mph up to Twickenham Bridge. It asks for better signs to help drivers choose the correct lane and warn them of the school.

The petition also calls on TfL to improve the safety of the shared pedestrian and cycling path up to Twickenham Bridge, which includes a 'dangerously narrow' stretch. It asks for separate pedestrian and cycle paths up to Whitton Road Roundabout.

Ms Kerry is hoping to gain as many signatures as possible on the petition to demonstrate residents' strength of feeling about the junction's safety, as she plans to present it to City Hall.

Another photo of barriers at the crossing outside St Stephen's C of E Primary School being down (credit: Laura Kerry).

A TfL spokesperson said: "Reducing danger on roads across the capital is a vital part of our vision zero commitment to eliminate death and serious injury on the network. Across the capital, we use a data-led approach to reducing danger and targeting investment in safety.

"Improvement of the shared pedestrian and cycle footway would require significant widening of the footway along this section of the A316.

"Given limited resources, we are currently prioritising other locations in London, which have higher collision rates, for major schemes to improve safety. We are however looking carefully into the issues raised and will work with the borough and meet with local communities to discuss proposed changes."

People have until November 24 to sign the petition, which can be found here.

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