FRESH pleas were today made to turn the A140 into a dual carriageway.The call from the president of a leading motoring organisation in Suffolk comes after last week's devastating crash at Creeting Bottoms in which a van driver was killed.

FRESH pleas were today made to turn the A140 into a dual carriageway.

The call from the president of a leading motoring organisation in Suffolk comes after last week's devastating crash at Creeting Bottoms in which a van driver was killed.

Peter Gunstone, of the Ipswich and District Institute of Advanced Motorists, believes dualling the A140 and increasing its speed limit would make journeys safer.

The former Suffolk police driving instructor said: "Around Suffolk, I am seeing a considerable restriction on people to make reasonable progress when going about their daily business.

"By dualling the A140, it will enable us to have a 70mph piece of road and let people travel far more safely."

The Evening Star has fronted a huge campaign to make the heavily used main arterial road between Norwich and Ipswich safer.

More than 40 people have been killed on the A140 between the A14 and Scole since 1990. The latest victim, Norwich driver Gary Oakley, died when his bread van collided with a lorry on Friday.

A lorry driver involved in the same crash is still in Addenbrooke's Hospital.

It brings the number of deaths on Suffolk's roads this year to eight - with four of these in the space of two days.

In its current state, the A140 contains variable speed limits and is littered with dangerous junctions and undulating terrain.

Mr Gunstone said it is these restrictions that may be provoking drivers into mistakes.

The former Suffolk police driving instructor said: "The current restrictions on these roads, although no doubt reducing injuries and fatalities considerably, are causing a lot of frustration for people.

"We have to accept there are a number of junctions coming out onto that road and it does need to be driven with great care.

"As drivers, we must look at every situation and realise that it is not appropriate to be driving the maximum speed at that time."

Mr Gunstone, of Bungay, broadened his criticism to Suffolk's whole road network, which he believes is unnecessarily bogged down by 30mph restrictions through a number of villages in the county.

He did however stop short of calling for an improved road network around Ipswich, which was brought to a standstill after two crashes on the A14 last month.

He said: "I don't think you could justify vast expenditure just because the odd accident happens and everybody has got to go through Ipswich.

"I feel there is more need for dual carriageway on the A140 than three lanes on the A14 at this time.

"We, as the drivers, are the problem and we have to improve our ability on the roads. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes, but people are not considering their responsibilities."

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is calling on people to improve their driving. For more information about the training and advice the IAM can offer, please call Jeff Beecham on 08702 460340 or visit www.ipswichiam.org.uk