By Violet Brown
CALLS have intensified for road safety improvements on the Newtownards to Portaferry road after two cars crashed onto the beach at the same accident blackspot within days of each other.
On Thursday a young mother and her child were the first to crash at the bad bend between Finlay’s Road and Cunningburn Road, and yesterday morning a young woman had a lucky escape when she also crashed onto
the beach at the same spot.
In both accidents the cars fell approximately 12 feet on to the shore and in each case the tide was out. Local people are reporting the accidents bring to six the number of
crashes which have occurred at the corner in just a couple of weeks.
The latest accidents have prompted appeals for a road safety review from Strangford MP Jim Shannon and local councillor Joe Boyle.
In Thursday’s crash the car fortunately landed on its wheels, but was still badly damaged, although the mother and her child suffered only minor injuries.
Two passing workmen used their ladders to get down to the car and help the woman before the arrival of the emergency services.
The police, Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service and Coastguard teams from Portaferry and Bangor, all attended the incident and the road was closed while the rescue operation took place.
Yesterday’s accident took place around 10.30am prompting a similar response from the emergency services. The car ended up on its roof but the woman driver was able to get out of the vehicle and wait for help to arrive. Police have reported she did not sustain serious injuries.
Mr Shannon, a long-time critic of safety standards on the road, said action is needed to prevent further serious collisions on what he described as a dangerous stretch of road.
“There have been numerous accidents along this dangerous stretch of road, with many resulting in injuries and tragically some in fatalities,” Mr Shannon said. “The road is winding with multiple blind bends and hills, creating limited visibility for drivers.”
He said coastal conditions and adverse weather could further affect visibility and road grip.
Mr Shannon continued: “I would urge the Department for Infrastructure to act before we see another life lost on this road.
“More warning signs and chevron boards should be considered at hazardous bends, alongside measures to tackle excessive speeds. We cannot continue to wait for a serious collision or fatality before action is taken.”
Mr Shannon said road safety on the Portaferry Road must be a priority, adding that local Roads Service officials were attempting to identify measures to improve safety.
Councillor Boyle has written to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins requesting a site meeting with her and departmental officials.
“This is number six in two weeks,” he declared. “They really have to do something.
“It always seems to happen when the tide is out and there is always a dry landing for the cars,” he said but feared a similar incident occurring when the tide was in.
Mr Boyle, who is originally from the Glens of Antrim, said many of the roads in that hilly area of Northern Ireland line the undulating coast and cliff-drop edges.
“But there are bollards there and barriers, but there’s nothing here. A few signs doesn’t seem to work. I don’t know what they need to do but the cars are going off at that area of the road for some reason.
“Everyone fortunately seems to walk away from these things,” he said, but warned of the possibility of subsequent drivers and passengers not being as lucky.
Mr Boyle said he had personal experience of an unexplained incident on the road.
“I recall some years ago I was following my wife traveling to Newtownards and her vehicle, for no apparent reason, went into a ‘ broadside slide ‘ on a bend at this location,” Mr Boyle recalled.
“It was a totally unexpected situation that I can categorically state did not involve speed.”
He questioned whether the road surface could be contributing to the number of collisions.
“Can the surfacing in place be truly eliminated for not playing any part with so many vehicles sliding, going into a spin, simply careering across this part of carriageway and ending up on the shore front?,” Mr Boyle queried. “We need to be pro-active rather than reactive.”
Police enquiries into the incidents are continuing. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information, including dash-cam footage, is asked to contact police.
