Reckless driver behaviour along one of Navan’s busiest road junctions is causing parents to think twice before allowing their children walk or cycle to school.
According to Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín who spoke to Meath Live, says she is being contacted by worried parents in the wider Johnstown area, fearful that impatient drivers will cause serious injury or worse.
“There is an ongoing issue regarding the safe navigation of the busy junction on the Dublin Road exiting Navan near St. Marthas Bridge and the road up to Springfield Court/ Limekiln.”
“There have been several collisions and ‘near misses’ here recently, particularly at the morning rush hour. The junction in question has a very large throughput of traffic. Early morning commuters departing Navan for Dublin compete with motorists coming from Johnstown and Limekiln.”
“The issue of traffic light sequencing is central to this. Currently it is timed so that drivers have to wait many minutes for it to change. This leads to impatience in drivers causing many to make a ‘dart’ for it when the light switches to red. This is highly dangerous and I am calling on Meath County Council to urgently review this and investigate what measures it can take to ensure this busy route to local schools for primary and secondary school children is made far far safer.”
“We are in the age of ‘active travel’ and very significant funding is being invested in Navan and in many towns and cities across the country to encourage us to walk and cycle. In truth, many of us see the merit of this and the necessity to cut down on our short car journeys. But every effort must be made, first and foremost by the Council in collaboration with our Gardaí, to ensure school routes for our children are free from risk and danger.”
