Brading Downs Road has been closed in both directions this afternoon (Wednesday) as a result of a crash involving 3 vehicles, 1 of which has come to a rest on its roof.
The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and Police are currently responding to the incident, which has taken place between Bully’s Hill and the junction with Mersley Down.
The crash occurred shortly before 15:50.
Traffic is being diverted via Ashey – a significant diversion for motorists already on diversion due to the overrunning roadworks at Branstone, which has closed the main Newport to Sandown road.
UPDATE @ 16:32 – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is now on scene with crews assisting emergency service colleagues.
Scene safety is being carried out which has included isolating the battery of at least 1 of the vehicles.
The crash has involved a white VW Polo, a grey Suzuki Swift and a Kia Sportage – which is upside down and facing the opposite direction to which it was travelling.
Elsewhere… the main road through Arreton is being opened following conclusion of roadworks in the area.
UPDATE @ 17:00 – It has been confirmed that all drivers and passengers have escaped serious injury, although 3 people are being conveyed to hospital.
A baby, who was travelling in Kia Sportage that ended up on its roof, has escaped injury.
It’s understood the Kia collided with the driver’s side of the Polo and then the front quarter of the Swift, with all vehicles sustaining significant front-end damage.
No offences have been identified with the incident said to be down to apparent driver error.
The road remains closed but is expected to reopen following the recovery of the 3 wreckages.
Judging by the repetitions daily reportage of serious RTCs on the island, some sadly involving deaths and serious personal injuries, one is bound to ask if the Isle of Wight has now achieved the unenviable status of a National Accident Blackspot?
What are the facts behind this rapid deterioration? Lack of a dedicated Roads Policing Unit and/or a combination of doddery old drivers and juvenile tareaways?
According to the above, the driver who caused the crash was neither old or a takeaway.
What has a takeaway got to do with it.
Mmmmm Chicken Korma
It’s complacency same road every day nothings going to happen, never has never will until TODAY.
Road Safety on the Island sits with the wrong service it’s the Police’s domain and I don’t just mean pro active I mean education and enforcement.
When’s the last time you saw a pro active roadside operation here ???
Actually yesterday from Cowes to Newport there was very active police presence concentrating on road actiivities.
People in general drive like the idiots on the island roads . They have no respect for each other or the roads.
There are too many people on this Island.
And another one…. maybe it’s time for a blanket 40 here.
No time for hidden cameras and jail terms for dangerous driving.
Don’t be daft! That would mean learner drivers would have to have all lessons & tests on the mainland. Be realistic.. Maybe people should concentrate more & slow down across the downs.
Having any sort of speed reduction would achieve nothing, for starters there is no one to police it or enforce, until there is respect from individual road users and driving with due care and attention or following the rules nothing is going to change.
It is all down to individual responsibility.
When wrong doing is proven, Courts need to come down much harder. So called ‘accidents’ happen for a reason… be it alcohol, drugs, or simple poor driving, Take more responsibility for your own actions and use any brains you have!
You are right, yesterday morning i had a pair of young idiots overtaking in the 40 limit on Lushington hill and one,a black vw, totally ignored the red traffic lights at Fairlea garage, these young drivers are a menace on the roads.
It’s not just down to young people. Shocking how people drive. And no patients at all
Quite agree with that. But, Hayley, I think you mean ‘patience’.
Hospitals have patients!
Yes Nathan I totally agree. Jersey has a 40 limit.
And German Autobahns have no limit yet they are some of the safest roads in the world. Its all about driving to the conditions not the limit.
Jersey is totally different to the Isle of Wight. If you had ever driven there you would know there are few roads where you can get much above 40 irrespective of the speed limit.
Obviously you have never driven in jersey. There are hundreds of roads over there where you can drive over 40 irrespective of the speed limit. I have noticed so much on how many experts in every field that we have on here. If you do not know something for certain DO NOT comment on it simples.
I respect and obey speed limits at the moment. I will no longer do so if a blanket 40mph limit is introduced as it is inappropriate on many roads.
In any case, the idiots causing the accidents will just take more risks trying to get past those who do obey a blanket limit.
Basically One can get from one side of the Island to the other in less than 30 minutes. 40 MPH speed limit is good enough .
Cant wait for all the extra pollution from being stuck in a lower gear
Very true, also its not good for engines
You shouldn’t be driving if you can not drive safely above 40 Nathan. Most accidents are below the speed limit. The speed limit is a maximum and a minimum. Normal drivers do not drive at the speed limit, you may, and if you do, you should not be driving. And people who drive badly, like the woman who over took me in Gunville (just after the hall), will speed what ever the limit is.
None of the island drivers will agree with you, that’s why most are idiots…they have no respect for life..
That’s a bit steep…I am an Island driver and am certainly not an idiot as are the majority of Island Drivers.
Is driver error not driving without due care and attention?
Exactly my thoughts Bram, this was obviously dealt with by a bobby and not a traffic trained officer. Glad nobody was seriously injured on this occasion.
Driver error what’s that mean then bad driving or can’t drive
Driver error I would say driving to far over towards on coming traffic.
IOW roadswere built for 1930/40 cars such as Austin 10 , prefects and and anglias , top speed 35/40 MPH these cars were no bigger than match boxes, These days cars go a lot faster and are wider than the carriage way they drive on so they are driving towards oncoming traffic .
You are spot on Terry. Many island roads are not wide enough for cars to pass by each other even when they have a central white line.
We need the council to get a grip and start to widen these bottlenecks or more crashes are inevitable.
Massive housing developments are only going to add to the chaos. Maybe a reduction in speed limits on certain roads will help if well thought out and enforced.
I am a car enthusiast , but a responsible one.
They also have much better brakes or did you forget that part?
Same old, same old, blame everyone else but yourself. A road never caused an accident, it’s the people who drive on them who do that. If it’s too narrow or bendy, DRIVE SLOWER, ie with due care and attention. If you want to do 50/60 mph down a bendy country lane that’s your decision, but if you kill someone while your doing it that’s your fault, no one elses.
Agree with you Ben. And possibly too fast!!! If any involved are visitors and they don’t know the road, well it’s inevitable something bad is going to happen. So much traffic on the island’s roads now. Some would say, too much! And it will increase even more with the massive building projects planned in Ryde!
Totally Agree, Traffic and the number of cars Is going to increase, as are the traffic jams . One typical road will Never get better the road from the crematorium roundabout to the traffic lights at the cedars pub. No way on earth can that road ever be widened with the houses both sides of that Main road running from Ryde to Newport and Cowes. With 2 sets of NEW housing developments just been built, one big set before the Garage and one smaller one just after. The problem there will just get worse and worse with the 3 way light system at the cedars. This is only one road lol what about all the other ones on this small compacted island. Smallbrook being the Next one. No wounder they made a bigger roundabout!!!!!!! And a big cock up that’s going to be.!!
It is thankfully truly amazing that everyone involved in this incident got out of it with their lives intact. Secondly, no arrests and cause determined as driver error therefore it should be seen as another warning to all as to just how dangerous some of our Island roads are and to always drive with an awareness of it.
Quite. With a crash of this magnitude, before the nineties it would have likely caused fatalities. Modern cars are so much safer – unfortunately this makes drivers more gung ho and drive faster.
That Brading Downs road is like a racetrack sometimes, average speeds are too high for safe travel in my estimation.
For example, I’d never attempt to cycle along that busy, fast road – it’s just too dangerous.
Probably a holiday maker with no idea how to drive on island roads. Just putting it out there!!
Yeah .Drivers on holiday, and others, tend to look at the views ,and all of a sudden, their on the wrong side of the road. Just glad know one was badly hurt.
Don’t assume it was a holiday maker! Islanders drive too fast for the type of roads we have here. Just stand on our drive and witness local drivers speeding past on a single track lane 2ft from where we are standing. Try cutting our hedge with them rushing past and not even slowing down!
probably based on facts.
Bloody hell, it’s getting worse! Thank goodness nobody was seriously injured. The poor baby. The report says, driver error. The little roads are so narrow around there.
Mainland driver speeding again can’t wait must overtake.Ban them from driving for life.
Obs based on facts
Judging by the state of the car on its roof it wasn’t dawdling along!
Modern cars are designed to absorb the energy of the accident. A low speed accident can look worse that it is. A head on, where both are travailing at 30MPH will have the impact force of one car going 60mph. Unless you witnessed what was going on, you can not tell from the scene.
Rubbish a head on where both cars are travailing at 30MPH will have the impact on each car crashing with a force of 30mph! Unless you are claiming 1 car will will have no force at all! Basic physics
People need to look beyond the end of their nose and bloody phone when driving
Policing units wouldn’t of stoped this or any other accident happening
More bad driving on the IW
Careless driving not driver error. How on earth do you crash into two oncoming cars and get nothing from plod.
My understanding is that driver error is classed as an offence. In other words driver error is ‘Driving without due care and attention’
what do you mean no offences..how the ..ck did that happen !!!
you can,t park there sir…