A mum says she and her family were injured in a horrific car crash because of faulty traffic lights.

Green lights signalled Charlotte Byrom to go ahead but she ended up crashing with an oncoming car.

The temporary signals at the A2’s Lydden Hill, after a previous accident, were faulty and were not repaired for six weeks.

Ms Byrom’s crash happened in the meantime.

She and her partner Luke Edmonds had spinal fractures, her daughter Amelia, 11, was knocked out and her son Luke, eight, was bruised.

It happened as Mrs Byrom was driving a Chevrolet Spark and trying to cross the A2 towards Lydden at a notoriously hazardous junction.

She now says: “I had no reason not to take my cue from the lights and make my right turn. I never for a moment could imagine the horror that happened.

“We felt unbelievably lucky to be alive.”

The accident happened at 7pm on Friday, December 23, as Ms Byrom was driving coastbound along the A2 from Whitstable.

She pulled into the central lane at the Lydden lights.

The lights signaled for her to turn right and cross over but as she moved forward her car was struck at high speed from the left from a London-bound car.

Amelia was on the left side of the family car and was knocked unconscious, suffering with concussion for a week after.

Mr Edmonds,44, of Herne Bay, also on the passenger side, suffered four spinal fractures, extensive bruising, head injuries, severe chest problems and cuts and bruises.

Ms Byrom, 42, of Temple Ewell , suffered a fractured spine, a severely bruised chest and hip and leg problems. Oscar escaped with one bruise but was traumatised.

The driver of the other car was also take to hospital.

Mrs Byrom said: “One has a responsibility to be alert and watchful when driving.

"But we must be able to trust and have faith in the traffic lights especially at a difficult junction or when visibility is poor.

“Five weeks later the lights have been corrected but it has affected our lives immeasurably.”

Mrs Byrom is a yoga teacher and still cannot return to work or even drive with any ease.

Mr Edmonds, an interior designer, has to work from home as he still not well enough to go on site.

Mrs Byrom said: “Our spinal injuries can take 18 months to two years to get better, if at all. I now stand in a position that I can be made liable by the other driver.

“Someone has be be held accountable for the accident. It is a clear sign of incompetence.
“Because of this negligence four people’s lives have been changed. I myself refuse to be held responsible for any part of this.”

Charlotte Byrom told her story to her MP when he met villagers from Lydden and Shepherdswell about the lights.

Temporary signals were placed at the top of Lydden Hill during repairs, but motorists say sequencing problems has caused chaos in recent weeks.

Other drivers said they were left queuing for hours when all the lights went red.

Highways England sent workers to the site and finally fixed the lights after Mr Elphicke contacted the roads authority last week .

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: “It’s no surprise the community feels let down. The road hasn’t been fit for purpose for a long time and the latest problems only add to the frustration.

"But we must be able to trust and have faith in the traffic lights especially at a difficult junction or when visibility is poor - Charlotte Byrom

“If we are going to realise a better future for Dover and Deal, we need to see growth without gridlock.

“Just like with the A20 speed limit, highways chiefs have got to get on top of these things sooner – and make sure the road is safe.”

The MP heard how the traffic lights needed replacing because a lorry struck the poles in early December.

Repairs were not completed at the busy junction until January 31 – six weeks after the accident.

A Highways England Spokesperson said:

“Safety remains Highways England’s top priority.

"We worked hard to reinstate the permanent lights at the Lydden junction which required the damaged traffic light controller, a specialist part bespoke to this junction, to be manufactured and replaced.

"We installed temporary traffic lights while the repairs were carried out and would like to thank drivers for their patience while we did this.”