Traffic danger in Kiltale prompts concerned student to take action

Two recent serious accidents close to her home have prompted 15-year-old Emily McDonagh from Kiltale to highlight her grave concerns about traffic on the busy Trim-Dublin Road.

Emily, a transition year student in Scoil Mhuire, Trim, is so worried about the dangers posed by the traffic issues that she wrote to one of her local councillors to see what can be done and is awaiting a reply.

“I am concerned for my younger siblings, for the local young people and vulnerable people and all other members of my community, many of whom have stories of close calls.

I know it's only a matter of time before we have a fatal accident here,” she said.

Emily, who is a daughter of Michael and Deirdre McDonagh, wants to see the 60km limit moved out past their group of houses. She explained that it used to rise to 80Kph where their houses are but following the last review it actually increased to 100kph, meaning that at a time when they wanted to slow down traffic, the speed limit increased.

Emily said they have had been several near misses in recent months and their postal worker will not drive onto the road and takes the long way around for safety.

“Unfortunately we had two serious accidents in the last number of weeks. Three weeks ago a retired gentleman and neighbour was knocked down by a car while he was volunteering for our local GAA club. He is now in hospital and has been told that the level of care he needs may mean he will need to go to a nursing home.”

Emily also told of the most recent acccident involving a lorry and a van.

“Both drivers survived but we are still waiting to hear how the van driver is. This was on my doorstep. This happened on the grass pathway we walk to get to shops and school and friends, if anyone was there they would undoubtedly have been killed.”

“Outside my house, the speed limit used to be 80kph and in recently years it was increased to 100kph. That's after my mother had the entire community sign a petition to have it reduced. When the entire community want it reduced you can imagine the anger and frustration when it was increased.”

While extensive works were carried out at the other end of the village last year, Emily said no works were done at their end.

“Last year steps were taken at the other side of the village but what’s interesting to us all locally is this was done outside the EU building and not at our end of the village with many residential buildings. There is also a nice pathway for their staff to get to the shops and a 60Kph speed limit for them and we have no path and a ridiculous speed limit”.

Emily said it would be amazing if there was more traffic calming at their end of the village but for now said she would be happy if the speed limit was reduced and the 60kph extended past their houses adding “and if we were lucky, maybe a footpath.”

A review of speed limits is due to take place and they hope the limit in Kiltale will be looked at as part of this.