Safety concerns raised over location of new bus stop

A BUS driver has raised serious safety concerns about the location of a new bus stop in Donacarney saying he believes accidents will be inevitable if the location is not reconsidered.

Stephen Sherlock works for Bus Eireann and regularly drives the D1 Drogheda to Laytown route. His concern relates to a new stop at Castle Glen in Doncarney that was recently commissioned. He is pointing out that the stop is located at an s-bend and is concerned that traffic coming from the Mornington side will not see pedestrians crossing there after alighting from the bus until it is too late.

While in theory passengers should walk to the pedestrian crossing, cross the road and walk back to Castle Glen, he says the reality is they will cross at the bus because it is quicker.

Stephen says other drivers have also shared similar concerns, though he can only speak on his own behalf.

The provision of bus infrastructure including stops and shelters is the responsibility of Meath County Council and a risk assessment would have been undertaken during the planning stages.

However, Stephen has queried whether this risk assessment focused solely on what happens on the Donacarney side of the stop and whether traffic coming from the Mornington side was taken into consideration.

He says Bus Eireann were not consulted and if they had been they would have pointed out these issues.

"When a bus has stopped at that location, due to it being an S bend, it makes any vehicle completely blind, no matter which direction they are coming from. From what I am aware, the council are focused on what happens directly behind the bus, on the Donacarney side, with the speed ramp, pedestrian lights and new footpaths.

"However what is in front of the bus does not seem to have been considered and that is where the potential danger lies. To completely ignore the reality of passengers alighting and crossing in front of bus with cars blind coming from both directions is negligent at its least.

"Unfortunately I see accidents as being inevitable if there is no reconsidering of the location. The old location is much safer and should have been upgraded."

He said it is a regular occurrence for passengers to cross in front of the parked bus. At other locations where the road is straight, he said traffic in both ways can see and have the possibility of reacting if someone crosses, and likewise pedestrians have the possibility of seeing the car and reacting but with a blind corners he said you don't have this.

Stephen also said that cars will overtake the bus when it is stopped, even if there is a ramp, even if there is a white line and they are heading into an S bend.

Meath County Council has been contacted for comment.