On Monday 8th July I was involved in a car accident, driving down First Avenue, towards the Aldi. This happened next to the turning of Momples Road (next to the Church). I was pushed into oncoming traffic and onto the pavement and sadly my car is beyond repair and has been written off.
More importantly than a car that can be replaced, I have been left with both physical and emotional wounds. This sadly comes hand in hand with an accident of this nature and I now need to work on healing them. However, I cannot let go of how much worse it could have been. I am fortunate that my two young children were not travelling with me and that when I was pushed into oncoming traffic, there was a gap meaning I avoided a head on collision. Had there not been a gap in traffic, I would have been hit head on where cars are going 40mph. If that had occurred, I would almost certainly not be here writing this.
In the time I was sat waiting for an ambulance, I witnessed another two near misses which highlighted to me just how dangerous this road is for users. As a result, I have not been able to stop thinking about the dangers on that road and the dangers posed by the turning into Momples Road and how the next person might not walk away. It scares me to think that someone else might not be so fortunate and the very real fear that this might quickly become another area of Harlow where a fatal collision takes place. 
A very kind lady and her daughter came to check on me and they told me they have been trying since 2020 to get something done about this road. Had the council listened to her initial concerns, change could have already been made and I might have been spared from that terrible collision. 
There have been so many accidents in Harlow lately and whether you are a resident or a visitor, I urge you to please sign this petition as further support before I put this to the local MP and relevant agencies.
I propose either installing a mini roundabout next to this turning, making the bus lane a bus lane entirely and NOT a bus lane that turns into a turn left lane (creating a blind spot for those emerging from Momples Road) and/or reducing the speed limit to 30mph. If anyone else has suggestions of how to make the road safer, please do share!

Regardless of how long it takes Harlow Council to respond to this or make a change, I urge anyone using First Avenue to please be careful and mindful of other users and take more care, particularly when it is your responsibility to give way to traffic. Never “chance it” on the road and be 100% sure it is safe and strive to arrive safely to wherever you are going. 

❤️ Life is precious and short. Stay safe on the roads. ❤️

Below is a photo of the turning: