Rishi Sunak has joined forces with fellow North Yorkshire MP Kevin Hollinrake to back calls for dangerous gaps and crossing points in the central reservation of the A19 to be closed.
Mr Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, and Mr Sunak, MP for Richmond, have jointly written to Highways England seeking swift action to close the gaps in the busy North-South trunk road where possible.
Their move follows an inquest into the death of an 83-year-old woman motorist whose car was hit by a van which crossed through a gap (pictured above) in the central reservation of the dual carriageway just north of Osmotherley.
Coroner Michael Oakley expressed his concerns about the two gaps between the Cleveland Tontine and Mount Grace Priory when he recorded a narrative verdict in the case of Sonia Rose, of Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk, who died in September 2016, when the van crossed from the southbound carriageway into the northbound carriageway and hit Mrs Rose's car head-on.
The van driver, who had no recollection of the lead up to the collision, has been diagnosed as suffering from sleep apnea.
Mr Oakley is to write to the Highways England drawing its attention to the dangers of central reservation gaps and crossing points on the A19 citing his experiences over many years dealing with deaths on the A19 and also the A1 before it was upgraded.
Mr Sunak and Mr Hollinrake said they would add their voices to Mr Oakley's asking that Highways England gives urgent consideration to the issue.
Mr Sunak said: "The gap in the central reservation was a major contributory cause of the accident and the terrible loss of Mrs Rose.
"While it would be difficult to close all the gaps, where there are relatively easy alternative access routes to lanes and properties alongside the road we should do so. That is certainly the case at Mount Grace."
Mr Sunak, who lives just two miles from the A19, said: "I am very familiar with the risks associated with the crossings. I use one to get to my home all the time.
"Some are clearly more dangerous than others and I support Mr Oakley's comments about the crossing points and gaps between Osmotherley and the Cleveland Tontine 100 per cent."
Mr Hollinrake said: ‘This is a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened. Mrs Rose lived in Carlton Miniott near Thirsk. My heart goes out to her family who are also from the constituency.
"I fully support any measures which will prevent this type of accident in the future. The A19 is a busy road and we should do everything we can to make sure that gaps in the central reservation are closed so that drivers can use it without fear of this kind of totally unforseeable accident."
The two MPs also backed Mr Oakley's suggestion that the carriageway barrier ends, which were also a contributory factor in the accident by guiding the out-of-control van into the oncoming traffic, be updated to a safer, more modern, version.