Young pupils prove cars are speeding through Ballinacarrow village
PUPILS from a Sligo national school who are nervous about walking to school such is the speed of traffic racing through their village have come up with undeniable proof that the vast majority of vehicles are breaking the speed limit near where they walk to school.
One of their teachers has warned that if nothing is put in place a serious accident will happen in their village.
The students used a borrowed speed gun to confirm just how many vehicles are well above the 50 kph speed limit going through their village of Ballinacarrow.
Last week three students from the school told members of a special policing committee in Sligo just how fast vehicles are going on the main road through Ballinacarrow.
Jack Taylor, Ava Collery and Gearóid along with deputy principal Jane Harding were guests of Sligo’s Joint Policing Committee where they made a plea for action to slow down vehicles racing through Ballinacarrow.
Jack Taylor from fifth class at the school said he wanted more speed ramps and signs in the village, and he asked people to slow down.
Ava Collery, representing fourth class on the Green Schools Committee, said she was concerned about the speed of the traffic which was not stopping at the village traffic lights.
Gearóid, representing first class, said he was concerned about cars going through red lights and he too asked for speed ramps to be provided in the village.
Deputy Principal Jane Harding said being given the opportunity to speak had meant so much to the school and its Green Schools Committee.
She said they were shocked at the results of their speed survey which confirmed more than half the vehicles going through the village were speeding.
She revealed how the backdraft from one passing lorry had pulled a schoolbag off the shoulders of one student.
When they finished their presentation the students and Ms Harding were praised for delivering their message clearly and succinctly.
For years parents of children in the area and school staff have suspected that cars, lorries and other vehicles are largely ignoring the speed limit near St. Larassa National School in the village.
With the aid of an accurately calibrated speed gun they confirmed their worst fears with large numbers of vehicles found to be breaking the 50 kilometre per hour speed limit in Ballinacarrow.
Sligo’s senior garda Aidan Glacken was among members of the Sligo Joint Policing Committee to hear the testimonials from three pupils from the school about their fears when going to school which were followed by the shocking results from their survey.
Ms Harding, deputy principal, told the meeting that the Green School Committee borrowed a speed gun and discovered that 98 out of 175 drivers surveyed on the road were speeding.
Some of those driving were 19 kilometres above the speed limit, clocked at 79 kph while others were found driving at 85 kph in the 50 kph speed zone.
She revealed how parents reported several incidents of drivers not stopping at a red light.
Others detailed how their children were almost sucked into the wheels of large vehicles such was the speed and power of the reverse pull from passing trucks.
Gardaí have been aware of the survey for some time, at one stage what is known as a ‘Gatzo’ speed van was regularly placed on approach roads to the village, but less apparent lately.
That looks set to change as Superintendent Padraic Burke who heads up the local Roads Policing Unit in Sligo/Leitrim confirmed that recommendations have been made through garda headquarters for the ‘go safe’ locations.
“We have submitted an application for Ballinacarrow in particular and part of that process is highlighting the area that will benefit from a ‘Go Safe’ location. This will be followed by a ‘ground site’ survey to identify a suitable location where the Go Safe vehicle can be parked.
“This process is in place, and it will probably take a number of weeks to get a definitive decision on it, but I am very hopeful that a ‘Go Safe’ location will be added on the roster.
He also confirmed that in terms of seeking a fixed camera system, gardaí have submitted applications which include Ballinacarrow.
He asked locals for patience as getting this in place will take time: “This will take a number of weeks or months before there is any final determination on that, but certainly we have included the representations we have got both here in the division and also on a regional basis for the areas.”
Local councillor Dara Mulvey has been very proactive on behalf of the school, the teachers, board of management and the local community in seeking action to see vehicle speeds coming through Ballinacarrow substantially reduced.
He tabled a motion heard at the JPC meeting seeking more control on the speed of vehicles. He also raised the possibility of installing a speed camera on the road.
“This is a health and safety issue. People have to walk down each side of the road to get to the playground or the school or the community centre.
“It’s a link road from top of Donegal down to Cork and people might not be aware that there is school there and that they need to slow down because someone needs to cross that road.
“It is a very busy road; there have been incidents where children or parents have nearly been pulled to the road due to the backdraft from the lorries,” he said.