By Violet Brown
A LEADING children’s eye surgeon has warned that lives could be lost on the A20 Portaferry Road unless safety improvements are made after he was caught up in a terrifying near-miss which he says could easily have ended in tragedy.
Portaferry resident John Brookes, a world renowned ophthalmic surgeon, has called for urgent action to improve safety on the busy route after a vehicle lost control and crashed through a sea wall on Tuesday, June 2. The car ended up on the shore but there were no injuries.
Mr Brookes, who works at the Royal Victoria Hospital, in Belfast, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, in London, said that had it not been for the quick reactions of his partner, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
“In wet weather a vehicle lost control on one of the bends on the road close to the junction with Finlays Road,” said Mr Brookes. “We narrowly avoided not one but two potential head-on collisions as the vehicle skidded across the carriageway before ultimately crashing through the sea wall.”
Thankfully, he said, there were no serious injuries on this occasion. However, he stressed it was impossible to ignore the fact the incident could very easily have resulted in fatalities.
“Anyone who regularly uses the Portaferry Road knows that accidents are far from uncommon, particularly during wet or adverse weather conditions,” Mr Brookes said. “Yet despite repeated incidents over the years is enough being done to address the risks? Surely we should not have to wait until more lives are lost before meaningful action is taken.”
Mr Brookes called for a range of measures to be considered, including additional warning signs, improved road markings, enhanced drainage, better surface grip, lower speed limits on dangerous bends and average- speed cameras. He also suggested a comprehensive road safety review should be carried out.
“Road users, local residents and visitors alike deserve to travel on roads that are as safe as reasonably possible,” Mr Brookes said. “I would urge the relevant authorities to investigate what further measures can be taken to improve safety on the Portaferry Road before a tragedy occurs.”
Strangford MP Jim Shannon said authorities cannot afford to wait for a fatal accident before taking meaningful action.
“After this latest near-fatal accident I will be making contact with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads Service to demand an immediate, comprehensive road safety review of the entire route,” he said.
“I want to completely echo and endorse the comments made by Mr John Brookes – a highly respected man and medical professional who knows all too well the fragile line between life and death.”
Mr Shannon said Mr Brookes and his partner were ‘incredibly fortunate’ to escape ‘this terrifying ordeal’ physically unharmed.
“The road’s tight bends, combined with challenging coastal surface conditions, make it a continuous hazard for local residents, commuters, and visitors alike,” he continued.
The MP said it was ‘entirely unacceptable’ that people should have to wait for a fatality before the necessary infrastructure improvements were made.
“Mr Brookes has rightly highlighted a range of practical, common-sense solutions that DfI Roads must look at immediately.
“People deserve to travel on roads that are safe and I will be taking Mr Brookes’ detailed account straight to the DfI Roads management team this week to demand an urgent onsite inspection – we need action now, before another family is plunged into grief on this stretch of road.”
A DfI spokeswoman said the department remained committed to maintaining the A20 Portaferry Road through regular inspections of the road network, road markings and signage, with maintenance works carried out in line with operational priorities.
“Road safety also remains a key consideration in the management of this route and officials review the PSNI injury collision data to identify if any further safety measures are necessary,” she said.
“The Department will continue to monitor the A20 Portaferry Road and work to ensure the route remains safe and serviceable for the travelling public.”
The spokesperson added: “Drivers are reminded to slow down and exercise caution when driving, particularly when driving during inclement weather conditions.”
