‘There is a huge risk of injury and to life’ – Cllr

CALLS have been made to install further traffic calming measures in Ramelton after alarming data showed some drivers entering the town at speeds of up to three times the legal limit.

The data, which was recorded on a radar speed sign, showed that between August and October this year, the majority of drivers travelling into the town from Milford were significantly over the 50kmh speed limit.

The sign, which is positioned in a built up area of the town, also registered speeds of up to 150 kmh.

Speaking to the Donegal News, Cllr Declan Meehan expressed his concerns over the alarming data.

He said if further traffic calming measures are not put in place soon, it is only a matter of time before an accident happens.

“There is a huge risk of injury and to life at the minute,” he said.

A Google Street View image of the R245 Milford to Ramelton road where the radar speed sign is now situated.

In the run-up to last year’s local elections, councillors Declan Meehan and Pauric McGarvey said they were inundated with concerns from locals about speeding in the town.

As a result, the pair organised for the town’s first radar speed sign to be installed in the hope that the visual reminder of drivers’ current speeds, compared to the posted limit, would encourage motorists to slow down.

However, despite their best intentions, speeding remains an issue at this part of the town.

Data released last week showed that cars are still speeding as they come into Ramelton, highlighting a clear need for additional traffic calming measures.

“One of the tools the roads team uses to establish if traffic calming measures are needed is what is called an 85th percentile speed,” Cllr Meehan told the Donegal News.

“The 85th percentile on the road into Ramelton is 69kmh.

“The sign also clocked speeds of up to a maximum of 150 kmh.

“This demonstrates a clear need for traffic calming measures.”

Councillor Declan Meehan.

Although Donegal County Council are pursuing active travel funding for the area, Cllr Meehan stressed that something must be done in the meantime.

“I think speed ramps need to be installed,” he said.

“There needs to be interim measures put in place.

“There are an awful lot of young families living in the area, there is no proper footpath connection into the town and it is only a matter of time before an accident takes place.”

Near misses

Recalling previous ‘near misses’, he said accidents have already occurred along the stretch from the entrance of Coylin Court, involving vehicles, down to the bridge in Ramelton, involving pedestrians.

“It is so regular and sometimes they go unreported to gardaí,” Cllr Meehan said.

“What I would encourage people to do is, no matter how small the incident, or how near the miss is, they should report it to the gardaí in Milford.

“Allocations of funding are made by the National Transport Authority based on garda reports as well.”