Cars breaking red lights at pedestrian crossing in Laois

Cars are unable to stop at a pedestrian crossing due to speed near a Laois school, a council meeting was told.

Cllr Padraig Fleming raised the matter in a motion at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. 

He asked: “That Laois County Council install two ramps on the R430 at a distance to be agreed on the Newtown Cross side of the National School/Credit Union and near Crosskeys Cross, Newtown in the interest of health and safety for all pedestrians and road users.”

Council Senior Executive Engineer Philip McVeigh said: “Laois County Council will arrange to carry out a speed survey on both sides of the school pedestrian crossing to identify the most appropriate locations for a speed ramp.”

While welcoming the survey, Cllr Padraig Fleming was eager to see action taken at the location.  

“This is a very serious issue. Over a year ago I had a motion in here about getting the pedestrian lights on the school crossing there. There’s the playschool, the national school, the credit union and people use it for going to the football pitch as well,” he explained. 

Cllr Fleming said there was a straight run either side of the pedestrian crossing.

“They could be doing 60, 70 or 80 kilometres an hour on either side and because the car is going so fast it can’t stop so it is going through the red lights and this has created big difficulty for a lot of people. And also a lot of fear,” said Cllr Fleming.  

Cllr Fleming said at Crosskeys a speed table could be used as well as a ramp on approach to the crossing. 

He said there is 60km sign, a 50 km, a 30km for school zone, a pedestrian crossing and flashing lights but “some cars are still driving very dangerously and it is a big threat.”   

In the dark on checks across Laois to see if school safety signs work

Cllr Fleming suggested a speed table and two speed ramps at the location as the best solution. 

Mr McVeigh said the speed survey would be carried out in the coming weeks. 

Cllr Ben Brennan suggested the ramps be located not too far from the pedestrian crossing.