Campaigners have appealed to drivers to think about the consequences of driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

There have been crashes in Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, which is used by drivers as a shortcut to avoid queues on the A2.

Residents say traffic often comes off the A2 via Shakespeare Road and Goodnestone Road then goes the wrong way along Shortlands Road through no-entry signs.

Altercations with drivers making the illegal move have ended in injury and arguments.

A petition of about 190 signatures was presented to the Swale Joint Transportation Board in September asking for a change in the road layout to prevent vehicles going the wrong way down Shortlands Road.

Kent Highways looked at the request but said it was not possible as it could hamper emergency vehicles and bin lorries.

Melissa Keefe, spokesman for the Shortlands Road Residents group, said: “On a busy morning it will cut out 10 minutes of your journey.

'On a busy morning it will cut out 10 minutes of your journey' - Melissa Keefe

“We get it a lot in the mornings with a lot of parents running late, which is understandable, but we’ve had a lot of it where some have struck people or cars.

“It’s a very, very old road with very narrow streets and parking on both sides so space is limited.

“It’s only a single track road so if you’ve got a car coming in the wrong direction it causes all sorts of problems.

The shortcut might save five or 10 minutes but is it really worth potentially killing someone or losing your licence?

“Police have been giving out Fixed Penalty Notices but they are only a short-term fix.”

Mrs Keefe’s husband, David, had to go to hospital after a car going in the wrong direction ran over his foot last June.

“If there’s nothing anyone can do, as long as it’s highlighted, it might just provoke a reaction from a few people,” she added.

“I panic thinking what will happen when my two children walk out the door.”

She also raised the issue with MP Gordon Henderson, councillors and police.

A police spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns raised around the use of a one-way system in Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne.

'If there’s nothing anyone can do, as long as it’s highlighted, it might just provoke a reaction from a few people' - Melissa Keefe

“Officers work closely with partners including local authorities to enforce road traffic laws.”

Mrs Keefe said she had also raised the issue with MP Gordon Henderson, councillors and police.

A police spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns raised around the use of a one-way system in Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne.

“Officers work closely with partners including local authorities to enforce road traffic laws.

"The highways authority has put clear signs in place that inform motorists of traffic restrictions in Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne. Drivers who ignore traffic signs compromise their own safety and that of other road users, in addition to risking prosecution.

"In 2019 police issued tickets to at least 16 drivers for breaching traffic restrictions in this road. These can lead to a fixed penalty notice, court summons, or where appropriate the driver can sometimes be offered an opportunity to attend a driver training course.

"It is important that instances of motorists ignoring signage are continually reported to the force, so any available evidence can be assessed, and an appropriate course of action determined. Reports can be made via the police website or by calling 101."

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “Alterations to Shortlands Road would not be possible to prevent or discourage car drivers from making illegal manoeuvres without preventing larger vehicles, such as bin lorries and ambulances, through the junction.

'At this stage we have no planned works for Shortlands Road' - KCC spokesman

“In order to discourage drivers intentionally driving the wrong way would require substantial changes to the road layout which would likely inconvenience residents.”

“We have to make difficult decisions on where to use our resources to improve traffic and road safety.

“We receive many requests and these are all reviewed and prioritised. At this stage we have no planned works for Shortlands Road.

“We will continue to monitor the site and should viable engineering solutions be found, we will look to implement them.”

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