THE mother of a teacher who was killed while cycling is supporting a push for safety improvements to a road in Potters Bar.

Barbara Haigh said she would be “absolutely backing any campaign” that put pressure on the county council to make changes to Barnet Road, where her son was killed.

Richard Haigh, 39, of Richmond Road, was tragically struck down when a car hit his bicycle earlier this month.

Mrs Haigh said: “It's not appropriate for speed ramps, but personally I think there should be no overtaking there. There should be road markings that indicate no overtaking on either side of the road.

“I don't think the speed limit should be 40, I think it should 30. I also think there should be a sign up, warning of black ice or danger accident hotspot.”

Concerns about the road was first raised by Rod Chilcot, 66, of Thaynesfield, back in 2009 when his son came off his motorbike.

Mrs Haigh added: “Their son skidded on his motorbike, luckily he wasn't killed, but how many people have to die somewhere before the council act.”

Campaigners have highlighted the tendency for Barnet Road to flood and then freeze over as a major hazard.

After his son's accident, Mr Chilcot went to observe the flooded road.

He said: “I've never seen such conditions in my life. Water on the carriageway formed a complete sheet of ice. Anyone on two wheels hasn't got a hope in hell.

“I said in letters to councillors there would be a more serious accident or fatality and I believe we've come to that and I'm very upset about it.”

Mr Chilcot said photos, taken two years apart from the same spot, prove that nothing has changed in the condition of the road.

Chairman of the Potters Bar Community Safety Partnership (CSP), John Godfrey, has also been campaigning for Hertfordshire Highways to sort water-logged carriageways in Barnet Road and Baker Street.

Raised at a CSP meeting in March, Mr Godfrey said: “They've had nine months to do something and all they did was clear the drains, and it has since flooded over.

“If you had a leak in your house you wouldn't just put a bucket under it, you would fix the problem.

“They've had since March, through all the good weather and early winter to actually rectify the flooding, and they haven't done anything. Now we've had a fatality, which in my opinion was not helped by the state of the road.”

Mr Godfrey said over the last ten years there had several incidents between Barnet and Potters Bar.

The chairman said he felt ill at the thought that the CSP had tried everything to prevent a fatality occurring.

A statement from Hertfordshire County Council communications officer, Lara Hejazi, said: “We are saddened to hear about this fatal collision and our thoughts and sympathies are with the family.

“A thorough collision investigation is carried out both by the police and the county council whenever someone is killed on the roads. Once the cause of the collision has been established, we consider whether there are any measures which could help prevent future collisions. The causes of the collision may be deemed confidential and we would be unable to share these details with the public.

“Unfortunately, collisions sometimes occur which could not have been prevented through physical changes to the road, for example collisions which are caused through drink driving or mechanical defects on vehicles. “At this early stage in the investigation process, we are unable to comment further.”

Complaints of faulty street lighting in Barnet Road have also been raised by Janine Smith, 48, who lives by Ganwick Corner.

She said lights have been off since before Christmas making the road dangerous at night.

Mrs Smith said: “I've lived there 25 years and have had numerous cars through my fence. It is an accident black spot. I don't know how many people they want to die there before they do something.”