POLICE are calling for improvements to the A30 dual carriageway near Whiddon Down after four fatalities last year.

The four separate road traffic accidents occurred within a short distance of each other and in each case vehicles were travelling west.

Two fatalities occurred at Merrymeet roundabout and a further two just beyond the North Tawton overbridge.

In the latter two fatalities, cars left the carriageway and plunged down an embankment.

Inquests into the two deaths found no reason why the accidents should have occurred.

Police have submitted reports and recommendations to the Highways Agency including an extension of the nearside crash barrier at the point where the cars left the carriageway.

Motor Patrol Sergeant Barry Tillyer, of Okehampton, said police were 'at a bit of a loss' as to why the accidents had happened there and had asked the Highway Agency to look at the road which featured a left-hand bend just after the overbridge.

Sgt Tillyer said: 'A nearside crash barrier would not prevent accidents happening but it would stop vehicles leaving the road.'

Fatalities at Merrymeet roundabout both involved people from outside the area.

An inquest into the death of a woman from Singapore was held at Tavistock recently. An inquest into the death an elderly man has yet to be held.

Sgt Tillyer said motorists could travel from Scotland and Merrymeet roundabout would be the first they came across.

The road had been in existence a long time and it was only recently that it had been the scene of fatalities, he said.

The road was a lot safer than it used to be but the speed of traffic meant that when accidents occurred there were more serious consequences.

'To have had four fatalities within a short space of time and close proximity raises major concerns.'

Sgt Tillyer said police had been targeting speeding motorists on the A30 road over the past year. Since April 1, officers had issued 411 fixed penalty notices on the stretch between Whiddon Down and Bridestowe.

They were issued to motorists driving in excess of the speed limit but under 100 miles per hour.

A further 230 reports on drivers, mainly for higher speeds, had been submitted to the courts.

Sgt Tillyer said during 1998 there had been a total of nine road traffic fatalities in the area covered by police from Okehampton.

These included fatalities at Sourton, Sampford Courtenay and Venton straight near Whiddon Down.