A Farnham resident has compared the area’s traffic issues to New York, as locals call for urgent action against speeding motorists.

Earlier in February, a red Hyundai collided with a wall along the A325 in Wrecclesham, sparking renewed concerns about road safety in the village.

Locals are now urging Surrey County Council to implement stricter measures to prevent further accidents.

Brian Sztukowski, an American who now lives in Farnham, said: “I joke to my friends at times and say Farnham is like Manhattan, New York in a rural town setting.

“People get impatient in the town where there is congestion and then speed off in areas like ours making people feel unsafe to walk and cycle out of fear of being hit.”

He has calculated that lowering speed limits to 20mph would add only about a minute to journey times while potentially saving up to nine lives and preventing nearly 100 serious injuries each year.

“Whilst a 20mph zone may be unpopular for some it prevents accidents from happening and the council should be implementing this or enforcement on speed measures to ensure people are safe,” he said.

“The council have received numerous complaints about residents feeling unsafe on the roads but nothing is being done about it. Will it take a fatal accident for them to act?”

In Wales, enforcement of 20mph zones in built-up areas began in September 2023. Recent statistics from the Welsh government suggest this has led to a decrease in fatal accidents.

In the 12 months following the reduction in the default speed limit, 100 fewer people were killed or seriously injured on 20mph and 30mph roads compared to the previous year.

Speeding concerns have also been raised in The Bourne, where residents on Dene Lane have spent thousands of pounds maintaining signs urging drivers to slow down.

Surrey County Council has been approached for comment.