Between 14 and 30 September, Oxfordshire County Council will carry out the work on the A420 west of Southmoor, on the staggered crossroads between Longworth and Charney Bassett.

The scheme will extend the current single lane in both directions from the Faringdon side by approximately 1km, so that it is just one lane both ways through the junction. The speed limit will also be reduced from 70mph to 50mph.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “These changes will be welcomed by road users as a way of making this site safer. The current junction is a concern for many drivers, particular those exiting the side roads into and across two lanes of fast-moving traffic.”

The work is dependent on dry conditions. Weather permitting, traffic management will be in place at these dates and times while the work is carried out:

• Monday 14 September: lane closures from 9.30am - 3.30pm for preparatory works
• Tuesday 15 - 17 September: lane closures for grass cutting and gully work
• Friday 18 - Wednesday 30 September: layby closures, 24 hours a day, to accommodate equipment
• Monday 21 - Wednesday 30 September: lane closures from 7am - 7pm with traffic management in place; full road closures from 7pm - 7am, with a signed diversion route in operation.

The speed limit reduction was approved by Oxfordshire County Council last November to be appropriate for the new junction layout and as part of its review of the limits on all A and B roads in the county – one of the tools within its Vision Zero strategy to reduce fatal and severe injuries for all road users in Oxfordshire.

Cllr Epps added: “Our speed limits review is all about reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The premise that no one should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using, is at the heart of our Vision Zero strategy.”

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Oxfordshire County Council will fund the installation and initial maintenance costs of the cameras, which will detect vehicles travelling over the 50mph speed limit and identify vehicles jumping a red light in both directions. Thames Valley Police will be responsible for their ownership and operation.

The measures are in response to several collisions and near-misses since the junction to the Barton Park development opened, and follow concerns raised by residents and councillors.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This will be extremely welcome news to everyone who lives in or visits this area and needs to cross this road. Excessive speeds and red-light jumping are genuine concerns at this location, with a video survey showing how widespread the problem is.

“We are delighted at this example of working in partnership with our colleagues at Thames Valley Police to put in a deterrent, which will make this road safer. Motorists who follow the rules will have nothing to fear. Those show disregard for others’ safety by breaking them will face the consequences.”

Chief Inspector Jade Hewitt, of Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Road safety remains a priority for Thames Valley Police, and we welcome the installation of these safety cameras at the Barton Park junction. We are aware of concerns regarding speeding and red-light offences at this location, and the evidence gathered has demonstrated the need for further enforcement measures.

“The cameras will act as both a deterrent and an enforcement tool, encouraging motorists to comply with the speed limit and traffic signals, helping to reduce the risk of serious collisions. Speeding remains one of the Fatal Five factors that contribute to the most serious and fatal collisions on our roads, alongside drink and drug driving, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt and careless driving.

“Most drivers use our roads responsibly, but those who choose to ignore the law and put others at risk should expect to be held accountable.

“We are pleased to be working alongside Oxfordshire County Council as part of our shared commitment to improving road safety and protecting all road users across Oxfordshire.”

The funding is coming from the council’s Vision Zero programme, its ambition to eliminate death and serious injuries from road collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.

The poles and cameras will be painted bright yellow to be as visible as possible to drivers, and advance warning signage has been approved by Thames Valley Police.

Installation work is scheduled to take place overnight, from 8pm - 6am, for up to four nights from Monday 20 July.

Traffic management will be in place, including lane closures when necessary to allow for safe working. The eastbound left-turn into Barton Park will be closed at times, and a diversion via the Headington roundabout will be in operation.

Residents are warned that some of the excavation work will be noisy, as vacuum excavation techniques are necessary due the presence of underground gas and electricity utilities.

Another recent addition to improve road safety in the area was the installation of flashing amber light warning signs either side of Barton Park Primary School.

This was also funded through the council’s Vision Zero programme and warns drivers of the likely presence of children crossing the road at school start and finish times.

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Since 2025, Oxfordshire County Council has been reviewing speed limits and safety on its network as part of its Vision Zero programme to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the network.

The review looks at whether existing speed limits are appropriate, using evidence such as collision data, road layout and how routes are used.

This has led to speed limit reductions on some stretches of road, including lowering national speed limit sections to 50mph or 40mph, alongside other measures such as junction changes or traffic management where risks have been identified.

The aim is to make rural roads safer for all users, recognising that many routes are narrow, winding and shared by drivers, cyclists, walkers, and horse riders.

Provisional government statistics published in late May suggest that the council’s approach is helping lead to significant improvements in road safety, with serious and fatal collisions in Oxfordshire falling sharply.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This review is all about reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The premise that no one should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using, is at the heart of our Vision Zero strategy.

“Making sure speed limits are safe and appropriate is key to achieving this. Oxfordshire’s last major A and B road speed limit review was carried out 15 years ago, so this review is much needed.

“While it was heartening to see that Oxfordshire is seeing significant improvements in road safety, according to recent provisional government data, we are far from complacent. Every death is one too many. Indeed, it has strengthened our resolve to push on and make conditions safer on more of our rural roads.”

So far, the review has led to changes being approved on stretches of the A4074, A40, A420 and A417, as well as corridors such as the A4260 and associated B roads. Additionally, a consultation on changes on the A361 has been completed with a decision to be taken in July on whether to progress these.  

Now around 60 more schemes are coming forward in 2026-27 as part of the Vision Zero programme.

Stakeholder consultation will begin later this month including with parish and town councils, Thames Valley Police, and bus operators. This will be followed by statutory consultation later in the year, where the public will be invited to have their say.

Cllr Epps added: “It is important for people to realise that the review is not about introducing blanket changes across the county. This is a bespoke approach. Proposals are assessed case by case, consulted on publicly, and monitored once implemented to ensure they are effective.

“The review is a data-led reassessment of safety and speed on Oxfordshire’s main rural routes. Officers are using current Department for Transport criteria on speed limits to guide the changes to be considered.”

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Newly published provisional government statistics suggest that Oxfordshire is seeing significant improvements in road safety, with serious and fatal collisions falling sharply while the wider Thames Valley area has seen increases.

The Department for Transport published its provisional personal injury collision and casualty statistics for Great Britain on 28 May 2026. While the figures remain provisional and may be revised as additional data is confirmed, the early trends are encouraging for Oxfordshire.

Analysis of the data indicates that people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Oxfordshire’s roads fell by around 18 per cent compared with the previous year. Across the Thames Valley area as a whole, KSIs appear to have increased by approximately 20 per cent over the same period.

The KSI measure is generally regarded as the most robust indicator within the provisional dataset because serious and fatal collisions are more consistently reported and recorded than lower-level incidents.

In February 2022, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved funding to support the roll-out of 20mph schemes in communities across the county at no cost to town and parish councils. Since then, more than 275 communities in urban and rural areas have requested and implemented 20mph measures.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “While these figures are still provisional, the early signs are extremely encouraging. Oxfordshire appears to be bucking the wider Thames Valley trend, with serious and fatal casualties falling significantly at a time when neighbouring areas are seeing increases.

“That strongly suggests the approach we have taken in Oxfordshire is working. We have made a conscious decision as a county to take speed seriously because lower speeds save lives, reduce the severity of injuries, and make our communities safer and healthier places to live.

“Our ambition is for Oxfordshire to become known as the county that takes road safety seriously. Whether someone is walking to school, cycling to work, catching a bus, or driving through one of our towns and villages, everyone deserves to get home safely.

“The growth in support for 20mph schemes across the county shows that communities understand the benefits. These measures are not about stopping people getting around; they are about creating streets that feel safer, calmer and more welcoming for everyone.”

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The reduction in people killed or seriously injured on Oxfordshire’s roads is hugely important. Behind every statistic is a real person, a family and a community affected by road collisions.

“Although these figures are provisional, they provide further evidence that our safety measures, including 20mph schemes and wider traffic calming initiatives, are having a positive effect.

“We know there is still much more to do, but this should give communities confidence that the decisions we have taken are the right ones.”

Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the University of Oxford, Thames Valley Police and cycling campaign group Cyclox are teaming up to hold the Vision Zero road safety event in Broad Street on Thursday 6 November 10am - 4pm.

The day will include the presence of a large lorry cab, so visitors can learn about blinds spots, as well as a crashed car exhibit from Thames Valley Police to show what happens to cars in road collisions. Representatives from Lime bikes and Voi e-scooters, which both operate hire schemes in the city, will also be there.

Visitors will be able to explore a range of stalls offering road safety advice and information, aimed at protecting the most vulnerable road users.

Once darkness starts to fall, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police will jointly carry out its Be Bright, Be Seen operation, educating cyclists who put themselves and others at risk by riding without lights.

The University of Oxford will be providing a mobile bike mechanic to carry out cycle safety checks and minor repairs on a first come first served basis. The service is free, but users will have to pay for any parts.

Andy Ford, Road Safety Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Winter is coming and dark evenings are approaching quickly again. This event is about reminding cyclists that they have a responsibility for their own safety too.

“It’s about making sure your bike is in good working order, that you’ve got lights on your bike that are visible, and wear something bright to give other road users a chance to see you.”

The Be Bright, Be Seen campaign stand will be open throughout the event, while the community policing teams will be giving away free bike locks and offering bike safety and security advice, and information about the laws around e-scooters and e-bikes.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Vision Zero is our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on Oxfordshire’s roads by 2050. No person should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using.

“Education is a key part of this, whether you’re a motorist, a cyclist, or a pedestrian – or all three. It’s great to see so many organisations coming together in Broad Street to share advice and information that could help prevent lives from being lost on our roads.”

Cyclox will be there to listen to people’s thoughts about cycling in Oxford and to share information on rights and responsibilities when you cycle, as well as providing information on safe cycling routes in Oxford city. 

Ian Loader, Chair of Cyclox, said: “Cyclox exists to support more people to cycle in Oxford, more often and more safely, so we are very glad to support this event on 6 November alongside so many organisations who care about safety on the roads in Oxford. Let's get the number of fatalities and serious cycling injuries in Oxford down to zero.”

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At a meeting today, Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, approved the projects which are all part of the authority’s Vision Zero programme. Its ambition is to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads by 2050.

The schemes affect the A4074 corridor between Oxford and Caversham, the A40 at Barnard Gate near Eynsham, the A40 at Holton/Wheatley, and the Welch Way roundabout in Witney.

Cllr Gant said: “Vision Zero starts with a simple premise that no one should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using.

“Designing roads and streets that are safe is one of the key strands to this policy, along with education, behaviour change, responses to collisions and safe speeds.

“We believe these measures approved today will help improve safety at sites where problems have been identified. However, as with all projects, we will monitor the results and make changes as required.

“More Vision Zero schemes are in the pipeline, as we continue to work with partners, stakeholders and the public, and I look forward to seeing them come forward on future agendas for decisions to be made.”

The A4074 corridor will see some speed limits reduced to 40mph and 50mph; no right turn restrictions will be introduced on the A40 a Barnard Gate on an experimental basis; a central reservation gap on the A40 London Road at Holton/Wheatley will be closed; and a raised parallel crossing will be installed at Welch Way, Witney.

The changes to the A4074 corridor are part of the council’s review of speed limits on all A and B roads in the county which it has responsibility for.

The Vision Zero strategy and action plan, which was adopted in 2024, aims to ensure the highway network is safely designed, implemented and maintained with the safety of users at the heart of all decision making.

The programme has a £4 million capital budget for measures delivered by 2026, plus £250,000 of revenue funding.

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^{Image shows Banbury Road in Oxford, from the Bevington Road junction.}

Oxfordshire County Council is asking people for their thoughts on draft designs to make safety improvements to junctions on Banbury Road, north Oxford, and on Iffley Road in east Oxford, two of the busiest through-roads beyond the city centre.

The Safer Roads Fund project for Oxford is focusing on improving a series of junctions on these roads to reduce the risk of road traffic accidents by focusing on points where there have been a slightly higher number of collision incidents:

• Banbury Road at Bevington Road, Norham Road, St. Margaret’s Road, Rawlinson Road, Linton Road, and Belbroughton Road on Banbury Road (A4165) between St. Giles (A4144) and the A40 roundabout.
• Iffley Road at Radcliffe Road, Cornwallis Road, Iffley Turn (South), Westbury Crescent, and Courtland Road (North), and Courtland Road (South) on Iffley Road (A4158) between the Donnington Bridge junction (B4495) and the Eastern Bypass roundabout (A4142).

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The welfare and safety of our residents is a top priority. These two roads are key routes into the city, used daily by a wide range of transport users, and provide key access to several of Oxford’s schools.

“We want to ensure that people can feel confident coming out of their road to make the trip to work or school, that drivers and cyclists have clearer visibility of other road users at the junctions, and that people who rely on mobility aids or sensory aids can make their journeys unhindered.”

Proposed improvements include:

• Adding solar studs along the cycle routes to separate the cycleway from the highway more clearly.
• Improving raised pedestrian crossing points (‘pedestrian refuge islands’).
• Raising junction entrances to footway level to reduce vehicle speed and make it easier for mobility aids to cross.
• Tactile paving to show kerb edges.

The safer roads project is a part of the county council’s vision zero commitment to work toward a goal of zero serious or fatal road traffic accidents on the county and city roads by 2050. It has worked together with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Safer Roads Foundation, and engaged with local partners to identify and plan the improvements. The plans are designed to ensure they meet UK government guidance for best practice in protecting vulnerable road users. 

The proposals are available to view on the county council’s Let’s Talk Oxfordshire digital engagement and consultation platform until 5pm on 28 March 2025. Subject to approval at a county council cabinet member decision meeting, it is expected that works would start during summer 2025 and complete later in the year.

Ends

For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Notes to editors

• Supporting information, maps, drawings and a survey, as well as details of how to obtain printed copies of the survey or any information in an alternative format can be found on Let’s talk Oxfordshire.
• Feedback and any questions on the project can be emailed to saferroadsfund@oxfordshire.gov.uk  
• Residents can access further information on the county council’s website.
• Measures in the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan and Oxfordshire’s Local Transport and Connectivity Plan are designed to make Oxfordshire a better place for everyone.
• UK government guidance for best practice in protecting vulnerable road users includes, among other documents: Local Transport Note for cycle infrastructure design: LTN 1/20, Active Travel England design assistance tools, and local cycling and walking infrastructure plans technical guidance.
• Vulnerable road users (VRUs) are people who have less protective equipment protecting them when making a journey. They include pedestrians, people using mobility aids, cyclists, horse-riders and motorbike or moped riders. The Highway Code discusses VRUs in its section on road users requiring extra care.
• This project has received £1.675 million from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund to deliver the safety works proposed. The funding is provided with the condition that is used only for new safety improvements (so cannot cover pothole repairs) that will protect people travelling on these specific roads – especially VRUs.
• As a part of Oxfordshire County Council’s vision zero commitments, this project aims to: provide better pedestrian and cycling facilities; reduce the risk and number of collisions and accidents; and reduce the number of fatal/serious injuries/casualties involving pedestrians and cyclists.

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