RESIDENTS are calling for measures to slow traffic after a crash they said they “knew would happen”.

Two people were taken to hospital after a two-car collision in Windlesham Gardens in Hove on Thursday morning. Sussex Police said they were treated for minor injuries.

Sandra Bernstein, 70, lives opposite the site of the crash. She said: “It was horrible to hear. There was an almighty bang and I could hear the sound of crunching metal.

“I didn’t twig what it was at first. I was tidying up in my front room. Then I looked out of the window and saw the crashed cars.

“Ambulance crews took a woman out of one car and laid her on the road.”

Mrs Bernstein said she has been campaigning to improve safety on Windlesham Avenue for four years.

She said: “I knew this would happen. It was inevitable.

“I’ve been ringing up for years and nothing has been done. Cars come by at terrible speeds. They’re so dangerous. Traffic bombs down this street and something should have been done about this a long time ago.

“I’m not saying this for me: it’s for all the residents here. People who live in my block of sheltered housing, Vernon Court, are petrified to cross the road. There’s a partially blind woman who lives in our building and every time I see her cross the road it terrifies me.

“About six years ago all the traffic was diverted down here after the Seven Dials roundabout renovation. For some stupid reason there are lorries, coaches and buses coming up this small road.”

Mrs Bernstein suggested installing speed cameras and bumps, as well as a sign diverting heavy vehicles away from the road.

She said: “I want to see speed restrictions, but I don’t know if that’s going to do it. All the cars will still be here, just slower.

“I’m meeting with our councillor Tom Druitt and someone from the highways agency to see what can be done.”

Mrs Bernstein has also invited councillor Anne Pissaridou, who said she was looking into the problem.

Cllr Pissaridou said: “I’ve had several conversations with Mrs Bernstein and we’re looking to see what we can do.

“We need to look at the accident and see what caused it, but I have asked and we’re investigating.

“Sometimes measures like these can help, but all I can say now is that she knows I’m on the case.”

Six years ago, Brighton and Hove City Council introduced a 20mph speed limit in most residential streets in Brighton in a bid to cut the number of accidents. But a Freedom of Information request in January this year revealed that only two speeding fines had been issued for breaking the limit since the cameras were put in place.

Getting speed cameras installed can prove difficult. Efforts by campaigners to introduce cameras on the A259 were rejected by East Sussex County Council in July.

The calls came as part of a petition signed by more than 200 people, which also sought to lower the speed limit to 40mph after a series of serious collisions on the road.