YOU may think that 196 road accidents in three years, resulting in one death and 286 people being injured, is quite a low statistic.

But when you consider that these accident figures relate to just NINE road junctions in the borough, then you realise there is a problem.

The figures are actually five times higher when you add the number of damage-only collisions that have either been reported to the police or been dealt with at the scene by the drivers.

Three of these accident hotspots are in Prestwich, one is in Radcliffe and five are in Bury, close to the town centre.

The borough's traffic police are now working closely with the local council's highways department to try and make these blackspots safer for all road users. However, much of the problems can be resolved with motorists' help.

Sergeant Martin Greenwood, of Bury's traffic unit, said: "All of these accidents could have been avoided. People drive too fast, they lack concentration and they are not aware of what is in front, beside or behind them.

"They have lost the skills that enabled them to pass their driving tests in the first place."

He continued: "It is hard to imagine so many accidents in just a few places. We can try and put in place new measures to increase the safety of these junctions, but without the support of the motorists, the money ploughed into the schemes is wasted if drivers continue to be ignorant.

"Lives are being put at risk for the sake of arriving a few seconds sooner, or because the driver is too concerned with changing the radio station, lighting a cigarette or chatting to their friends or business associates on mobile phones."

Speed cameras, advisory road signs and new and improved road markings are among some of the ways being adopted to tackle accident hotspots.

Executive member of Bury Council's environment and transport committee, Councillor Julie Higson, said: "We are always keen to work with the police and other agencies to try and tackle these accident hotspots.

"We keep a careful check on our roads and when problems are discovered, we try and determine methods to make these areas as safe as possible.

"I am sure that any remedies at these nine hotspots will result in improvements but, of course, we need motorists and other road users to think safety first."

Although police are keen to make motorists aware of the nine particular "hotspots", officers believe that as a consequence of poor driving, any road in the borough could receive the ominous classification.