New large road signs which collapse if they are hit by vehicles are being tested in Oxfordshire.

County council senior highways technician James Wright with one of the new signs and its lattice supports The county council is introducing a new type of post that is designed to give way, but at the same time absorb the impact of a collision.

Some of the new signs are being erected on the A418, between Thame and junction 8A of the M40, in the hope that motorists are less likely to be injured in the event of a crash.

The signs are supported on triangular or square-shaped supports, formed from a latticework of aluminium. County councillor David Robertson, executive member for transport, said: "If these posts prove to be a success at Thame, we hope to see them being used on other major roads around the county.

"Hopefully, we can reduce the danger to motorists from unprotected roadside objects."

John Dawson, the AA's policy director, said: "We have to make roads more forgiving.

"People shouldn't be dying on major routes because basic protection is absent from entirely predictable collisions, such as those with unfenced roadside objects."