Petition Calls for Speed Cameras After Multiple Fatalities Near Cornwall Air Station

A petition advocating for the installation of average speed cameras near a Cornwall air station has been initiated following a recent fatal accident. On Saturday, December 14, 22-year-old engineer Samuel Vass died after a collision with another vehicle on the A3083, adjacent to RNAS Culdrose in Helston. This incident follows the deaths of two airmen from the base in a nearby crash in December 2022. Daniel Thirkill, who launched the petition, stated: “Without action, the heart-breaking pattern of accidents and loss will only continue.” Cornwall Council, the authority responsible for road maintenance, responded by saying: “We are committed to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads through our ongoing work with partners.” The council further commented: “Following an incident where someone has been killed or seriously injured, we will analyse data from the location and work with partners to determine if there are appropriate measures that can be taken to improve road safety.” Mr. Thirkill, a former leading airman at the base, resides in the local area. He expressed: “It’s something I regret not doing two years ago when we lost two sailors on the same stretch of the road.” He added, “This road needs to be restricted to 60mph, I don’t want to see more flowers by the roadside.” Within the petition, he penned: “Each new tragedy not only takes lives but leaves families broken and communities grieving.” He continued, “By implementing a 60mph average speed camera, we can drastically reduce the likelihood of high-speed collisions and save lives.” The specific section of road currently features three roadside memorials commemorating individuals who have died in fatal traffic incidents. One of these honors 18-year-old Lottie Rees, who passed away in a motorcycle crash in 2018. A second memorial is dedicated to Callum Gilbert, aged 23, and his passenger Daniel Cox, aged 24, who lost their lives in a high-speed collision in December 2022. The third tribute is for Samuel Vass, 22, who died on December 14.