Engineering solution called for at trim blackspot

A number of councillors have called on Meath County Council to provide an engineering solution in response to the comparatively high number of road traffic accidents on Dublin Road in Trim.

Speaking at Friday's meeting of Trim Municipal District Council, Cllr Noel French remarked that speeding remains an issue on this particular stretch of road. Last month, a serious accident resulted in a number of people being hospitalised, he added.

Noting that speeding is an issue throughout the country, local area engineer Vincent Collins said: 'People talk about engineering solutions but the solution really lies with the people driving. How to address that is another issue entirely - it's not an engineer's issue.'

He added: 'Solutions can be devised, but it doesn't solve the problem. It moves the problem on.'

Cllr Ronan McKenna described the area as an 'accident blackspot' and asked: 'How many times does a car have to leave the road at that particular point before Meath County Council takes it seriously?'

Mr Collins confirmed that the Dublin Road in Trim has been surveyed in the past, but the surveys didn't identify 'an engineering issue that’s causing the problem'.

Responding to Cllr Trevor Golden's suggestion that the road be straightened at the point where there is a bend in the road, Mr Collins said that, in terms of horizontal alignment, 'it's a miniscule turn that has to be taken...with a 50km/h speed limit. It's incredible to say it's an issue.'