Following a serious car crash along the High Road yesterday, locals have appealed for speed cameras, reports Marco Marcelline
Residents have expressed alarm over “regular speeding and reckless driving” along High Road Leytonstone, after a car was totalled in a crash yesterday morning (10th March).
Police were called at 3.31am yesterday following reports of that a vehicle had mounted the pavement and ploughed into a brick wall just south of Leytonstone High Road Station.
Photos of the crash scene show a car with its front completely crushed while a wall and fence for a housing estate is partially destroyed, with bricks scattered across the pavement.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the driver has been discharged from hospital with non-serious injuries and was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
Local resident Alex Smith spoke to the Echo about regular speeding on the High Road, saying he felt it was too dangerous to let his young son cycle on it.
He said: “Cars routinely speed and drive dangerously, seemingly without consequence – or at least without any fear of consequence – and it is extremely rare to see drivers keeping to the 20mph limit. When I do drive, always at 20mph, I am often beeped at and sometimes overtaken.”
Appealing for speed cameras to be placed along the road, he added: “What needs to happen before the authorities start taking safety on this road seriously? [They] must be aware of how bad the situation has become, so this cannot simply be a matter of lack of awareness. Is it public pressure that is needed? Or does there need to be an even more serious accident before meaningful action is taken?”
Another resident, writing on Facebook, said: “I have been nearly knocked over so many times. That section of the High Road is really frightening as some drivers see the long straight road as a nice opportunity to give it some rig. And let’s not forget the section by the Red Lion pub where drivers routinely drive up the wrong side of the road to turn down down the Harvey Road/Mornington Road rat run. It’s honestly a miracle that no one has been seriously hurt yet.”
Locals have pointed out that there are no speed cameras or adequate deterrents along the High Road, despite several having been installed in nearby Whipps Cross Road.
Council deputy leader Clyde Loakes, and cabinet member for climate and air quality, told the Echo that the town hall had long been asking for speed camera installation and enforcement powers to be taken out of Transport for London (TfL) and the Met’s hands.
He said: “We will continue to lobby to be granted the ability to enforce speeding and do even more to keep all road users safe from the minority of drivers who do not think the rules apply to them.
“We share residents’ concerns about dangerous driving on Leytonstone High Road. The council is currently only able to consider preventative measures. Following a perception survey carried out in autumn 2025, in which many respondents expressed and repeated their serious concerns about dangerous driving behaviours and speeding, we are carefully looking at interventions to further calm traffic and make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “We are committed to improving safety on London’s roads and continue to prioritise measures that reduce speed and prevent speed‑related collisions. As part of this work, we are planning for the future expansion of our safety camera network, with new locations to be identified through a robust, risk‑based approach and in close collaboration with London boroughs.
“We continue to closely monitor data from the road network across the borough and would carefully consider any proposals from the council for changes or new camera locations to ensure they deliver the greatest possible safety benefits.”
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
