THE dangerous situation facing children getting picked up and dropped off for school buses at the junction of Golf Course Road, Kiltoy Road and the Letterkenny to Ramelton Road is an accident waiting to happen.
This is according to Mags Kelly of Cornagill, a mother, whose youngest child is dropped off to get the bus to the Royal and Prior in Raphoe and is then picked up on the Alcorn’s turn off side (Kiltoy Road), on the other side of the road on returning as the road is too dangerous to attempt to cross.
Buses picking up children for the various schools are having to do U-turns at the Golf Course Road entrance which has turning lanes in two different directions.
Ms Kelly explained to the Donegal News that there are students for at least three second level schools getting picked up and dropped off – Loreto, St Eunan’s and The Royal and Prior.
“I am just a mother, but when you see something is not safe you have to do something about it. I know that Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh has raised the matter with the Council’s Roads Section and money is an issue. The children have nowhere safe to stand, they are just standing on the roadside or in the ditch.
It is bad enough at this time of year but when the dark mornings come it is so dangerous as drivers are concentrating on the various turns available.
“I have also raised it with the schools involved and they all acknowledge it is not a great situation. The junction is tricky enough for cars. The bus drivers are very good and do the best they can to keep everyone safe. It is on a bend where the speed limit is 80 kph. If there was a traffic island in the middle of the road the children might have a better chance of getting across,” Ms Kelly added.
Cllr Kavanagh told the Donegal News that he already has put in a question for Tuesday’s meeting of councillors about the road safety there after an accident last Friday.
“I have been raising this issue now for at least two years and it is an issue of money. After last week’s accident there I have asked the Roads Department to see if they can get funding from the minor accident programme.
“As a councillor it is very frustrating, you know the danger is there and you raise it, but everything moves so slowly. You just keep trying and I know I have the support of my fellow councillors,” Cllr Kavanagh said.
He pointed out that children are basically standing in the ditch waiting to get picked up.
“It is dangerous. If there was ice or bad road conditions it would be worse. It needs a hard shoulder and signage. There is a very definite safety issue and the residents and students have my sympathy. It needs money and it needs a solution. All we can do is keep the pressure on to get something done,” he added.
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