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Currently the A358 is one of the most dangerous roads in the region. In the past five years there have been 29 serious or fatal accidents on the 9-mile stretch of road between Taunton and Ilminster and more than 80 less serious accidents. Sadly, there was another fatal accident on the A358 in early February 2004.
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The road carries more than twice the number of vehicles it was designed for making it one of the busiest roads in the South West. Much of it is still curving single carriageway, which leads to accidents when frustrated drivers attempt ill-judged overtaking manoeuvres. Improving the A358 will improve safety.
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The section of the A358 between Thornfalcon and the M5 is one of the five worst roads in the whole of Somerset as measured by accidents per mile and the section between Thornfalcon and Ilminster is one of the five worst roads in the whole of Somerset in terms of severe accidents.
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Only 1.2 miles of the 9.3-mile section between Ilminster and the M5 is currently dual carriageway. Dualling the whole road between Taunton and Ilminster would improve safety and reduce accident levels on the A358. The scheme to dual the A358 also includes safety improvements on the A303.
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