VIEWPOINT: I Saw a Driver Run a Red Light—We Need to Act Before It’s Too Late

This morning, I was stood on the pavement outside Overton Pharmacy, minding my own business, when something happened that made my blood boil—and it’s left me furious.

A silver Mercedes driver overtook a car that was properly stopped at a red light and then sped off towards Whitchurch like they had a death wish. I was just a few feet away, watching the whole thing unfold, and it was like watching an accident waiting to happen. The driver didn’t even hesitate—they flew through the junction without a care in the world, completely ignoring the safety of everyone around them.

And this wasn’t just some one-off move. This was reckless driving, pure and simple. The kind of driving that could’ve resulted in a tragedy. I could’ve been crossing that street. A child could’ve been crossing that street. Anyone could’ve been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that person could’ve had their life changed—if not ended—in a split second.

But this wasn’t some faceless person in a car. This was someone who made a choice to break the law, to put everyone else in danger, just to shave a few seconds off their journey. That’s not just irresponsible—that’s criminal.

Now, why does this matter so much to me? Because, like I said, I was standing on that pavement, a pedestrian, watching it happen right in front of me. I’ve been hit by a car before when I was younger. I know what it’s like to be struck by a vehicle. I know what it’s like to feel the world flip upside down in a second. I’ve also watched a close friend get hit by a car when we were teenagers. The panic, the shock, the terror—it all comes rushing back. And I can tell you right now, the last thing I ever want to witness again is a tragedy like that happening because someone thought the rules didn’t apply to them.

This incident is part of a much bigger problem that’s been escalating in our village. We’ve had multiple cases of dangerous driving recently, and the most recent tragedy? Ducks getting killed on Bridge Street and on the High Street. Now, I know that might sound trivial to some, but it’s not. It’s a symptom of a wider issue: a lack of respect for the safety of others. If drivers can’t even slow down for animals crossing the road, what makes us think they’ll slow down for humans?

We cannot let this continue.

That’s why there’s a growing movement in the village to reduce the speed limit, to make our roads safer for everyone—whether you’re behind the wheel, on foot, or crossing the street with your dog. Right now, we need to act immediately before someone is seriously hurt—or worse.

If you care about your community, now’s the time to stand up and make sure this reckless driving doesn’t go unnoticed. I’m backing this petition, and I’m urging you to do the same. Sign it here: https://chng.it/Bd7nrrrCDT

We cannot afford to wait for the next tragedy. We cannot afford to wait for another life to be ruined by some entitled driver in a hurry.

The time for change is now. We need to lower the speed limit in this village. We need to stop pretending that this kind of behaviour is just part of the “cost of living.” It’s not. People’s lives are at risk every single day.

And if we don’t act now, the next person standing on the pavement could be the one who doesn’t make it across the street.

So, please—sign the petition. Share it. Do whatever you can to help make our roads safer. We cannot afford to keep waiting.

Let’s make sure that the next time a car storms through a red light, it’s not a tragedy waiting to happen.