Green Party candidate calls for 'multiple traffic calming measures' in Dundalk-Carlingford
Gerard Crawley says 'requests for traffic calming measures have come up time and again'
Green Party candidate for the Dundalk-Carlingford area, Gerard Crawley, has made a call for "multiple traffic calming measures in Dundalk-Carlingford", listing a number of areas in the Local Electoral Area (LEA) where he wants action taken.
Mr Crawley told the Dundalk Democrat today that, "before I decided to stand for election, I had seen evidence of a number of minor accidents in my locality. However, since embarking on the campaign trail a month ago, requests for traffic calming measures have come up time and again."
"A few days later we canvassed Ard Easmuinn, where a resident at the Carrick Road end of the Ecco Road requested the installation of speed bumps there in the interests of safety and peace of mind.
Above: Gerard Crawley at the Ecco Road in Dundalk
"Residents that I canvassed on the Grey Acre Road last week remarked that traffic was dangerously fast on the road and that the closure of Mount Avenue had exacerbated the problem.
"Another resident on the Carrick Road just outside of town remarked that the speed of incoming traffic was dangerous enough even on its own but that the impassable footpaths there made it a case of an accident waiting to happen.
"Yesterday a resident on the road between Kilkerley village and the N53 Castleblayney Road expressed concern about the speed of traffic there, emphasising the compromised visibility due to multiple bends in the road.
"Residents in Bellurgan also complained about the speed and noise of the vehicles on the main road there when I spoke to them yesterday.
"Three days ago, I found it difficult to hold a conversation with a resident of the main road in Lordship, due to the noise from the traffic speeding by. However, this man articulated a different remedy - a green technological solution! He suggested the powers that be should install solar powered speed cameras.
"Once installed these would require negligible manpower (occasional maintenance). These machines could be installed in stationery locations. The speeding fines issued would make their installation self-financing. This is a great example of how technology could free up Garda resources. As awareness of the cameras increased, motorists would doubtlessly slow down in compliance with speed limits."
Seeking action from the local authority, Mr Crawley said, "I am calling on Louth County Council and the Road Safety Authority to implement considered, imaginative traffic calming measures before more people get injured or killed on the Louth roads."
"I commend the recent motion of Green Party Cllr. Marianne Butler, to use all available information when deciding on road safety measures."
He added: "Finally, I would ask each and every motorist to examine their own driving behaviour and make a conscious and deliberate resolution to improve it. Personally, I recommend putting the phone out of reach: in the glove box or passenger door pocket. Emerging data indicates that phone use is the cause of many accidents. Hopefully our collective actions can reverse the worrying upward trend in road deaths."