KILDARE: Road user behaviour is blamed for accidents on town's main street
Road user behaviour is to blame for accidents taking place at a busy pedestrian crossing on Naas’ main street.
Local politician Bill Clear called for a safety audit to be carried out at the pedestrian crossing at Bank of Ireland branch where “where a recent accident highlights that this crossing is not a safe crossing particularly for children and vulnerable road users.”
He told a Naas Municipal District meeting that a number of “near misses” had occurred there and at the nearby crossing at the Presbyterian church.
“I want an audit, there is not enough time to get across. We've had five accidents on the main street (and) we’re heading in the direction of a fatality,” he said.
According to Kildare County Council an audit can be done “if funding is made available”.
In a report KCC official Pamela Pender said the concern about safety of children and vulnerable road users is shared by the council.
“However, at this location, these issues are directly related to the behaviour of motorists using main street. It should be noted that a signalised crossing facility is not self-regulating and general traffic is regulated by the appropriate traffic laws which are enforceable by the gardaí.”
Another KCC official Donal Hodgins said there is “nothing wrong” with the facility at the Bank of Ireland.
“We can’t control user behaviour,” he said adding that incidents happen because of the behaviour of people sharing the road.
He pointed out that the green light for pedestrians does not come on until after the red light for traffic has been activated.
He said the issue the location is complicated by the width of the street and the fact that vehicles are using Basin Street as a route to the canal - something that could be countered by creating a cul de sac at Basin Street.
“We wouldn’t agree there is something wrong with the crossing, he said, adding that traffic through Basin Street might also be cute when the greenway is opened on the canal to provide an enhanced amenity for walkers and cyclists.