Speeding and reckless overtaking on a stretch of country road are putting pedestrians in fear of their lives.

People walking on the narrow pavement say passing vehicles, especially HGVs, cause a “vacuum” - giving the feeling they could be sucked into the road.

The concerns are being raised over the busy route between Wingham and Sandwich - known as the “Shatterling Straight” - by the A257 Traffic Group, which campaigns for better safety.

Members are also worried about the dangers posed by entrances and exits, including Wingham Wildlife Park and Wingham Country Market, onto the fast-flowing road, where the 50mph speed limit is sometimes breached.

In March 2021, a 20-tonne tipper truck overtook a tractor being driven by the owner of the garden centre and farm shop as he indicated to turn right into the premises, causing a horror crash.

It left tractor driver Richard Dyer with “profound and life-changing” injuries, including a broken neck, fractured skull and bleed on his brain.

Truck driver Leigh Ivory was found to be high on cannabis at the time of the collision.

In January this year, the father-of-three from Nicholas Road, Canterbury, pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years, a five-month curfew and two-year driving ban, and ordered to complete six months of drug rehabilitation and 300 hours of unpaid work.

Now, the results of a new survey by the A257 Traffic Group have revealed the safety fears of Shatterling residents.

“It clearly shows their worry of using the footpath from their homes to local businesses, visit neighbours or bus stops and of attempting to cross the road, which, in fact, many are too scared to,” says group administrator Kerry Coltham, who is also clerk of Wingham Parish Council.

“The speed of the vehicles is a concern, particularly in the hamlet of Shatterling itself, but also the size of vehicles as HGVs and buses even travelling at the speed limit cause a vacuum as they pass pedestrians, which is very scary.

“The footway is narrow and there is no avoiding the vehicles and residents have spoken of near-misses where people have nearly fallen over.

“On the straight stretch, the main concern is inappropriate and reckless overtaking.

“There are a number of turnings along like farm and business entrances as well as Beaute Lane which are regularly used throughout the day and drivers just don’t take this into consideration when recklessly overtaking other vehicles.”

She says Kent County Council has told the group it has no money for any physical highway improvements along the road but could help with an awareness campaign.

“Our discussions with the authority about the problem petered out a while ago but we are hoping for a meeting with the cabinet member for highways and transportation, David Brazier, in the near future.

“There is no chance of a speed limit reduction but at the the very least we hope the double white no overtaking lines could be extended through the parish of Shatterling.”

The A257 Traffic Group now has a dedicated information page on the Wingham Parish Council website for residents to reports issues and incidents.

KCC was asked for comment.