WORRIED Lindley residents want action to prevent a repeat of a road smash that left a teenager seriously injured.

The 17-year-old girl remains in a stable condition at Leeds General Infirmary following the crash on Kirkwood Drive last Wednesday evening.

She suffered serious head injuries when the Vauxhall Corsa she was in was in collision with a Honda Civic coming the other way.

Four other people involved in the crash escaped any serious injuries.

Now residents are calling on Kirklees Council to take action.

Peter Appleby, who lives on Lytham Way, which comes off Kirkwood Drive, said traffic calming on other nearby streets had turned the road into a rat-run.

He said three sharp bends on Kirkwood Drive made driving difficult.

“Experienced drivers have difficulty negotiating the bends on this road so it is no surprise that an inexperienced driver might fail to cope with the challenges,” he said.

“Three tight bends, poor visibility and inconsiderate parking are all part of the challenge of travelling up and down this road.”

He said the road’s camber made conditions even more challenging.

“It’s a blind bend and the camber is all wrong and you end up drifting onto the wrong side of the road.

“People come speeding down here and take the first bend too sharply so they are already in trouble.

“I’ve lived here 20 years and I’m amazed there haven’t been more accidents.”

Mr Appleby, 49, used the ‘Report a road problem’ section of the Kirklees Council website to raise his concern.

Another Lindley resident posted a message in the same section on the day of the incident.

It said: “I wrote to you August 2008 regarding this road and received a reply stating because there had been no incidents you would do nothing.

“You may be interested or pleased to know there has been a serious incident today in which the road was closed for a considerable time due to the severity of car accident.

“I am sure the police and emergency services will confirm this.

“How many incidents does their need to be for action?”

Lindley Conservative councillor Tony Brice said Kirkwood Drive had not been a major source of problems in the past.

He added: “One of the criteria with highways when you raise an issue like this is the accident statistics.

“Unfortunately we are in a situation where you have to have lots of accidents before something gets done.

“Kirkwood Drive isn’t an accident hotspot because it’s a very bendy road and doesn’t give rise to speeding.

“I haven’t been aware of any particular issues down there, but obviously if there are thing people want to raise, I would be happy to hear from them.”

Fellow Lindley councillor, Lib Dem Tony Woodhead, said the sharp bends in the road largely prevented speeding.

He said: “It’s a difficult road for people to drive along quickly.

“The trouble is, we could put up signs and things, but I’m not sure it would have a great deal of an effect on people who are determined to speed.

“Once we get the results of the accident investigation we’ll decide if the issue needs looking at.”