A STRING of crashes on a notorious icy road has prompted an outburst from Surrey County Council's leader.
David Hodge, who represents Warlingham, has condemned the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of drivers.
He blasted motorists who ignored "road closed" signs on Succombs Hill – only to come to grief on the icy hill.
When the Mirror visited the scene on Friday, it resembled a war zone.
An overturned car was near the summit, the wreckage of a Jaguar and a Vauxhall blocked the road, a motorbike had come to grief against a railway bridge and a BMW lay stranded close to the foot of the hill.
Mr Hodge said: "The police closed the top and bottom of the hill as soon as the bad weather set in for a good reason, because the road can be dangerous.
"Most people in the area know that when it has been snowing you do not go down Succombs Hill.
"They are very good and accepting of the situation, respecting that road. But a few drive erratically – its really annoying.
"If some motorists insist on driving down a road which police have closed off, insurance companies will no doubt ask questions."
Paul Lemmer, who lives in adjacent Stuart Road, said on Friday: "I can't believe anyone in their right mind would come down that steep hill in slippery conditions if they had any idea how bad it gets. Maybe they didn't know the area that well.
"The road is effectively completely blocked at the top and bottom. It's still too dodgy down there."
Peter Mahoney, of Southview Road, said: "Succombs Hill is narrow and steep, with a nasty little corner. So many car wing mirrors get hit and we have had several accidents there, particularly during winter."
In May 2011, an 80-year-old woman died on Succombs Hill after her Citroen smashed into a tree.
And the worst of a string of other incidents on the hill came in December 2010 when eight vehicles careered off the road and a car ended up nose-down in a ditch.
