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Call for action on 'runway' road

Thursday, 13 March 2008

Residents in Tallaght are calling on South Dublin County Council to take action on a dangerous stretch of road where a young boy was knocked down and almost killed three years ago.
The mother of the boy who was hit by the car has expressed her concern that road safety measures introduced after the near fatal accident are inadequate.
Ann Flanagan, from Ard Mor, described how speed control ramps that were put in place soon after her son Kevin was injured have had no effect in slowing down traffic in the vicinity.
“This road has been described as a runway,” she said. “As a mother who’s had the misfortunate of having her son knocked down, I’m constantly on edge when he or other small kids are out playing.”
The ramps were installed soon after Kevin, who is now seven, was hit although residents claim they had made many previous attempts to get the council to introduce safety measures in the months prior to the accident.
Kevin was lucky to escape with his life after he was mown down outside his own home.
“It was one of those heart stopping moments,” Ms Flanagan recalled. “There was a screech of tyres and we just knew immediately what happened. He was hit full force by the car and was left lying on the road. My mother-in-law was visiting with us at the time and she collapsed on the steps of the house with the fright. We rushed him to hospital where he was given a scan as he had suffered a head injury. He was blessed that he did not suffer any serious damage to his brain but he has not been the same since and still suffers anxiety.”
Despite the measures introduced by South Dublin County Council in the wake of the accident, residents say the dangers children are facing on a daily basis are unacceptable and that more secure traffic calming should be put in place.
“Boy racers are always charging through the estate at full speed, with no regard for what damage they may cause, even if that means somebody’s life,” one of Ms Flanagan’s neighbours said.
She added: “The ramps that are currently in place have not had the desired result, and even though they don’t even slow cars down, I have often witnessed some drivers driving onto the footpath to avoid them.”
Another local resident said: “The ramps are too low so drivers are able to maintain their speed without having to slow down. Add this to the fact that kids often run out onto the road from behind a parked vehicle and the consequences could be lethal.”
Accident
Ms Flanagan further explained: “There is only one road sign in this whole estate as well. It’s only ever after an accident occurs that something is done. A few neighbours and myself have contacted the council before but nothing’s been done yet.”
An official with the roads department in South Dublin County Council explained that phone calls alone were not sufficient and observations on traffic matters must be submitted in writing.
“For obvious reasons we need all submissions to be written to us so that we have a record of what residents want in a particular area,” he said. “Bear in mind that there must be a consensus before we can take action. While of course we would consider any requests asking for more measures to be put in place before we go ahead with any work we must consider those living in the same area who may object.”
The spokesman said that the road in Ard Mor had been examined as part of a larger road scheme introduced in 2005.
Meanwhile, Ms Flanagan revealed that a petition with over 60 signatures calling for more measures to increase safety on the road had been submitted to the council.

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