Residents of a Bristol cul-de-sac who claim they take their life in their hands when they pull out of their road say council plans to install flashing signs will make no difference.

The residents of 17 bungalows in Gloucester Road, Patchway, which joins the slip road on to the A38, say changes made earlier this year to the railway bridge above the A38 have made it dangerous for them to pull out.

During building work on the bridge, which leads off the roundabout with Coniston Road, a new metal parapet has been built which is about six feet high.

In May the Evening Post reported that the residents were concerned for their safety because the parapet was obscuring their view of oncoming traffic.

After several months of lobbying South Gloucestershire Council, and discussions at local PACT meetings, proposals have now been made for an "interactive sign" on the bridge, lighting up with the words "Slow Down" and "Side Road Ahead". It is to be considered alongside other schemes to be installed in 2010 or 2011.

Resident Brian Bayliss, 73, who is retired, said: "We have lots of signs already – this won't change anything. If everyone stopped and looked at all of them we would be having chaos.

"Our problem is that we can't see oncoming traffic, and anyone driving across the bridge cannot see us waiting there – and they go too fast. We feel like we take our lives in our hands when we pull out of our road. We will never, ever give up on this. It needs to be sorted."

One of his neighbours, Maurice Hudson, 50, a lorry driver, said: "I think it is a death trap. A sign like that will not work – they need to put in traffic lights or a speed camera enforcing a 20mph limit. I think the council is hoping the situation will go away."

Brian Brook, 73, a retired engineer, has lived in the road for 20 years. He said: "A sign would help for the majority of people, but not for the minority who cause the problem.

"They should install traffic lights – they wouldn't have to be conventional ones, they could be ones that are only activated when someone is there trying to pull out of the road."

South Gloucestershire spokesman Steve Knowlson said: "As part of the works to strengthen Patchway Bridge, Network Rail stipulated that a parapet be put in place – which had to be of a certain style and height – to prevent vehicles from leaving the road and falling on the rail track below.

"Following this, the council has been in discussions with local residents and the town council regarding measures to help make motorists using the bridge more aware of the Gloucester Road cul-de-sac turning / junction.

"Signs and 'go slow' markings have already been installed. Also, the council has suggested that an electronic sign, advising motorists to slow down, will be considered alongside other competing schemes for inclusion in the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme for 2010/2011. The council explored a range of further options regarding the turning."