The ongoing issue of motorists not giving pedestrians the right of way when crossing at Cathedral Road was discussed at the December meeting of the Ballina Joint Policing Committee this week.
“I think there are people out there who don’t know what a pedestrian crossing is and there are others who just point blank refuse to stop at it,” Independent councillor Gerry Ginty told the meeting. “I was there the last day and saw a man make five attempts to cross the road - people just won’t stop.”
“People are coming around the bend too fast to see it and stop in time, you see people stranded trying to get across the road,” said Dep Dara Calleary. “Maybe there needs to be warning signs further back so people can see it’s there better.”
Sinn Féin councillor Peter Clarke stated: “You’re lucky if one in eight cars stops at that junction”.
“I believe that the traffic is coming to fast up to it and there is a complete lack of knowledge of the rules of the road with some people,” said chairperson of the committee Cllr Johnny O’Malley. “A lot of driver education needs to be done before there is a serious issue arising out of this crossing.”
Town engineer Michael O’Grady said that motorists weren’t breaking the speed limit per se. “They are just driving too fast for the centre of the town. I don’t know are people not seeing it or are they just not obeying it. Maybe improved signage would help, but I am loath to put up too much because it can confuse the motorist. We have four crossings on that road, three of them are uncontrolled but they are rigged to be controlled if needed, it could be looked into.”
The issue of crossing at Emmett Street was also raised by Cllr Francis McAndrew told the meeting.
“The council has always conceded that there needed to be a controlled crossing there, and we will look at it as part of next years road works programme and see where the best place to put it will be,” Mr O’Grady replied.
