Chester Road Safety Crisis: When Will Birmingham City Council Act?

For years, residents of Pype Hayes and Erdington have voiced their fears about the A452 Chester Road. Specifically, the stretch between the Tyburn Road and Orphanage Road roundabouts has become a notorious hotspot for speeding and dangerous driving.

Following the tragic fatal collision in May 2026, and yet another serious crash near Chester Road Railway Station just this September, the community is demanding answers. How many more incidents will it take for the Council to take preventative action?

The Staggering Reality of the A452

The official data paints a disturbing picture of a road that has been left unsafe for our community. A seven-day speed survey conducted in November 2025 reveals a shocking disregard for the law:

• Rampant Speeding: Out of 119,328 vehicles surveyed, an astounding 77,365 vehicles (64.8%) were exceeding the 30 mph speed limit.
• Directional Danger: The Northbound lane is particularly dangerous, with 70.9% of all traffic exceeding the speed limit.
• The 85th Percentile: To understand normal traffic flow, traffic engineers look at the 85th percentile speed — the speed at which 85% of traffic is travelling. On both sides of Chester Road, this speed falls squarely into the 35–40 mph bracket, confirming widespread and dangerous non-compliance.
• Extreme Speeds: The survey captured 1,028 vehicles travelling at 50 mph or faster, with the highest speeds recorded falling in the terrifying 80–85 mph range.
• A History of Harm: Between October 2022 and April 2026, there were 17 unique collision incidents resulting in 18 recorded casualties. Two of these casualties were pedestrians, and two incidents resulted in serious injuries. Crucially, this data does not even include the tragic fatality from May 2026 or the recent crash in September.

Where Is the Enforcement?

The most glaring issue is the complete lack of effective enforcement. As residents well know, the existing fixed speed enforcement cameras on Chester Road are essentially decorative.

In recent correspondence, the Council admitted that these cameras are no longer operational, have reached the end of their serviceable life, and — most alarmingly — there is currently no funded replacement programme in place.

The Council's Priorities Leave Us Behind

Birmingham City Council is currently rolling out an "Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) Tranche 1 Expansion". This data-driven initiative aims to install new cameras on high-risk routes, supporting the city's Vision Zero goal of eliminating road deaths.

To even be considered for this programme, a road must have an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volume of greater than 15,000. Chester Road easily meets this threshold, averaging over 17,046 vehicles a day. It also likely meets the criteria for consistent speed non-compliance.

However, despite our high collision rate and undeniable speeding epidemic, the A452 Chester Road is absent from the Council's list of 22 priority corridors. The Tranche 1 expansion focuses on six other areas, including the A45 Coventry Road and the A34 Stratford Road, while Chester Road is completely ignored.

Where I Stand

This is unacceptable. We cannot wait for another tragedy before preventative action is taken. The data is there. The harm is real. The Council's own criteria are met. And yet Chester Road is passed over.

I have formally demanded clarity from Birmingham City Council and have invited the relevant highways, transportation, and road safety officers to our upcoming Pype Hayes Ward Meeting.

What Happens Next

Pype Hayes Ward Meeting

• Date: Tuesday 29 September 2026
• Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
• Venue: Hollyfields Sports & Conference Centre

I urge all concerned residents to attend this meeting. It is time the Council explains to this community what specific actions they intend to take to prevent further serious incidents on the A452. The time for reviewing the matter has passed; we need targeted enforcement, working speed cameras, and a commitment to keeping our streets safe.

Have Your Say

This is your road, your community, your safety. If you've witnessed dangerous driving on Chester Road, or if you've been affected by the lack of action, I want to hear from you.

• Sign the petition — join the campaign for working speed cameras and targeted enforcement on the A452.
• Vote in the poll — should Chester Road be added to the Council's speed camera priority list? Have your say below.
• Attend the meeting — Tuesday 29 September, 6pm, Hollyfields. Bring your questions and your neighbours.
• Report issues — use the ward report tool at dannycarter.org.uk to log dangerous driving hotspots and road defects.

Register at dannycarter.org.uk to comment, vote, sign petitions and stay informed. The more residents who speak up, the harder we are to ignore.