Donacarney parents protest over pedestrian safety concerns

Concerned parents staged a protest in Donacarney yesterday afternoon over the dangerous traffic situation facing pupils and parents walking to and from school  each day.
Realt na Mara Boys and Girls School is one the biggest in the county and each day hundreds of schoolchildren cross the busy junction at the local community centre to walk home or to meet parents collecting them.
There is no pedestrian crossing, school warden or even warning signs and with several near misses in recent times, parents are fearful that a child is going to get knocked down if traffic calming measures are not put in place.
Sandra Wright Byrne, Chairperson of the Donacarney Community Action Group said cars are “flying by” and that every day there is some near miss. She explained that parents literally have to stand in the middle of the road to try to get children across.
She fears it is only a matter of time before there will be an accident if nothing is done.
The group is calling for a pedestrian crossing and traffic warden, and at the very least for some warning signs to be erected so that motorists are aware there is a school ahead.
Recently one sign was erected on the Bettystown side of the school but there is nothing for traffic approaching from the other side.
Many parents from nearby estates walk their to and from school and many others park their cars at the community centre as there is not enough room to park outside the school for the many cars collecting children each day.

They all have to cross the busy road and are calling on Meath County Council to  carry out traffic calming works for the safety of pedestrians.