A SPATE of accidents has forced Blackpool Borough Council and local police to join forces in highlighting the problems drivers have art mini-roundabouts.

PC Liz Harrison of Blackpool's Road Policing Unit, is one of the officers currently overseeing the troubled Bispham Road roundabout and told The Citizen: "Just this morning I saw five near misses there. The engineering at the roundabout is very bad, we want to raise the height of it and make it more visible to drivers.

"Last year we had 24 injury road traffic accidents at mini-roundabouts in Blackpool and South Fylde, compared to 22 the previous year -- which is showing a steady increase and is still too high."

Measures will involve police and road safety officers providing a visual presence at the roundabout on the Bispham Road (A587) junction with Moor Park as well as several others.

Road safety officer Carol Bracegirdle explained: "There have been some incidents at the Moor Park/Bispham roundabout, pictured here. However, I suspect the accidents only involved damage to vehicles and not people."

Now police and council officers wish to remind drivers of The Highway Code which states they should approach mini-roundabouts in the same way as normal roundabouts.

On the approach drivers should slow down, take notice of traffic signs and markings and give way to traffic from the right remembering to give the appropriate signal. In all cases watch out for traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout.

All vehicles must pass around the central marking except large vehicles that are physically incapable of doing so. The centre spots are constructed so that they can be driven over by long vehicles and other drivers are asked to make allowances for this. Drivers are also reminded to look out for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Remember there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal.

Highways Chief, councillor Roy Fisher said: "There are still some drivers who are unaware on how to use mini-roundabouts. These small roundabouts have a raised centre and are designed to smooth the flow of traffic and help drivers to turn right at junctions.

"The rules are the same as for ordinary roundabouts and motorists are advised to observe The Highway Code."