A STRETCH of road where a young mum was killed has been labelled a “race track” that desperately needs to be made safer.

Fears over the possibility of future crashes and tragedies have been raised following a horrific collision that led to a massive emergency service response.

Flowers now mark the spot where mum-of two Lauren Filer, 27, died on Sunday.

Residents living in the area along the A689 near Carlisle have spoken of their fears of having to use the road on a daily basis – and the dangerous way some drivers use the route

Among them is Graeme Howlieson, who had emailed his local council about the issue only minutes before he heard of the tragedy.

“It’s fast and dangerous to be turning off or turning onto,” Mr Howlieson said. When I come home there is always someone wanting to get past you.

“It turns into a race track.

“I just thought it was quite scary emailing them to say I haven’t seen any islands or something to slow people down – and then actually a crash happened.”

He said: “It’s shocking but we’re not surprised.”

The collision sparked one of the biggest emergency operations in the last year, with paramedics, police and firefighters all involved.

The tributes left at the scene to the young mum, from Annan, include a message from her two young daughters.

It reads: “To our beautiful mum. You left us beautiful memories. Your love is still my guide and though we cannot see you you’re always at our sides. Loving you forever and ever.”

She was driving a Peugeot 208 which was involved in a collision with a Peugeot 207 containing a man, woman and two young children. A 49-year-old man driving the other car was in a “critical” condition.

There is no suggestion that anyone involved in Sunday’s tragedy was speeding.

Mr Howlieson, 49, a construction worker who has lived in the area for five years, is concerned about the Park Broom junction, turning right off the A689 as motorists head from Carlisle.

While he always indicates and gives sufficient notice, he says he has lost count of the number of times he has been overtaken or drivers have had to slam on their brakes at the turn.

He sent his response to the council shortly after 2pm, only to hear 40 minutes later of the dreadful collision.

He said: “You can’t turn off at 60mph. You have got to slow down or stop.

“I’ve even indicated and had a car whizz by me.

“I’ve been turning for Crosby and been in the slip road bit and had a car pass me in a ‘third’ lane. They’ll overtake you regardless.”

He knows of times when people have been indicating for Park Broom and after seeing what’s going on behind them have felt forced to carry on to Crosby to turn off and turn round for fear of speeding traffic.

Mr Howlieson’s email was responding to the Stanwix Rural Community Plan, delivered to him that day which includes pressing for increased safety on the road.

Mike Fox, the council’s chairman, said increasing volumes of traffic on the A689 and concerns from residents – particularly around several junctions – have led it to being included as a priority in the plan.

“It is a long-running issue and sadly having identified and decided it is going to be a priority for us over the coming four-year period, it is just sad that Sunday’s incident occurred,” he said.

“I hope it does lead to some reflection in terms of the use of that road and safety.”

Mr Fox said there is greater prominence given to junctions and traffic calming measures on the A69.

He highlighted how there is one sign along the A689 which suggests slowing down and more are needed to remind drivers.

Mr Fox added: “I think little attention appears to have been paid as far as signage is concerned.

“If you are using the road occasionally and not regularly then the advice to slow down isn’t there and people don’t.

“That becomes the worrying side of it.”

Improvements between Linstock and junction 44 have been made in recent years.

A county council spokesman said: “Cumbria County Council is committed to reducing road casualties as a lead member of the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership. We work as Highway Authority alongside the police, fire and rescue service and others to keep users of Cumbria’s roads as safe as possible.

“All queries and concerns about road safety across the network are taken to the next meeting of the Partnership’s Casualty Reduction and Safer Highways Group so that all of the agencies involved can consider whether there are any further safety measures that would be appropriate to implement, including engineering, education and enforcement.”