Safety cameras may be installed on a stretch of road known as the "death-spot" after a recent fatal accident.

Bradford Council's traffic engineers are looking into the possibility of introducing cameras on the dual carriageway section of Toller Lane, Bradford.

Ward councillors and residents are demanding action after father-of-six Qurban Hussain, 68, of Farfield Terrace, Heaton, died after he was in collision with a white van at 6.50pm on Sunday, May 6.

Mr Hussain, whose wife died in a similar accident nine years earlier, was attempting to cross at a zebra crossing near the Toller Lane Mosque.

The driver of the van, a 44-year-old Bradford man, has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The Council has already approved a scheme to convert the zebra crossing into a puffin crossing and work should start this financial year.

But Councillor Amir Hussain (Lab, Toller) said: "We know that the zebra crossing is due to be replaced but this will come too late for Mr Hussain and his family. The Council needs to get its finger out and get on with the job before there are any more tragedies.

"We need to protect the public and cameras should form part of the solution.

"This is a very busy road and last Sunday's tragedy is just the latest in a long line of serious accidents.

"Mr Hussain was a much loved family man who had been a hard working member of the community for many years. My condolences go to his family."

Councillor Arshad Hussain (Con, Toller), a relative of the bereaved family, said cameras would be "helpful" on both sides of the dual carriageway.

He said better road signs should also be introduced to warn motorists to slow down on the approach to the crossing.

Coun Hussain said: "Even if it saves one life, it is worth the cost. It's a dangerous stretch of road where there have been about three fatal accidents over the last ten years. People around here call it the death-spot'."

Christine Hopkinson, senior traffic engineer for the Bradford West area, said: "A plan to convert the existing zebra crossing on Toller Lane near Fairbank Road to a puffin crossing has already been approved, and work should start this financial year.

"We are also looking at whether safety cameras would be appropriate on the dual carriageway section of Toller Lane and will make recommendations to the councillors in due course."

A puffin crossing differs from a pelican crossing in that the lights controlling the pedestrians are on the near side of the road, rather than on the opposite side.

A service for Mr Hussain was held at the Toller Lane mosque on Wednesday, when about 2,000 people from across Bradford came to remember his life.

Mr Hussain was born in Pakistan but moved to Bradford in the 1960s, where he worked in a textile mill before retiring.

His body was flown back to Pakistan from Birmingham International Airport and his funeral took place in Mirpur, his birthplace, yesterday.

Last week it emerged that Mr Hussain's wife had also killed in a road accident nine years ago as she tried to cross Heaton Road, Bradford.

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our online forum - Click here