Galway city central labour caniditate John McDonagh says stronger traffic calming measures are needed on Shantalla road.
There are three creches and one primary school located on this road which at present has a speed limit of 50km. While canvassing recently in Shantalla, it was brought to McDonagh’s attention that over the past few months a number of cars have been damaged while parked on Shantalla road.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in the past few weeks when a car parked around the corner from MacDara road was struck by a vehicle travelling at speed and the impact propelled the parked car approx. 40 meters to the other side of the road next to St. Mary’s College boundary wall.
“Fortunately no one was seriously injured but if vehicles had been approaching from the other direction there would have been serious consequences for other vehicles and pedestrians if they had been on the footpath when the car was propelled across the road,” he said.
“This speed limit needs to be reduced to 30km an hour urgently.
Mr McDonagh also suggests a pedestrian crossing between Colmcille and McDara road to protect children and used as a mechanism to slow traffic.
“It is obvious that the digital speed traffic calming sign (which is not working for the past month or so ) is not being heeded by a lot of drivers.”
McDonagh says there should be ‘schools ahead/with caution children crossing’ signs on Shantalla road. Similar issues have come up on the door steps on Fr Burke road in the Claddagh and on the Circular road opposite Claremont regarding drivers driving too fast and lack of pedestrian crossings.