No more fails at test centre!
IT was said to have caused learner drivers to fail their tests but a simple solution has been found to the problem at the entrance to the Sligo driving test centre at Carraroe.
Learner drivers emerging from the centre as they undertook their test hadn’t a clear sight to their right as vehicles were often parked adjacent to the centre blocking the view.
With an obstructed view, many learner drivers didn’t see oncoming traffic and fell foul of the tester as a result.
However, Sligo County Council moved to fix the problem last week after being approached by one of Sligo’s driving instructors, Brendan Tierney.
He asked what could be done to create a clear line of vision and last week the council installed cones to prevent parking outside the centre.
“They will make a huge difference to anyone doing their driving test in Sligo,” said Brendan.
He outlined how a number of months ago he asked the council if some sort of parking deterrent could be erected at the test centre exit on the Old Dublin Road.
“Regularly, vehicles would park to one side of the gate which caused a major obstruction to the view of drivers emerging.
“Not only did this add to the stress of a learner driver trying to do their test but it was highly dangerous trying to emerge from the test centre.
“I know of pupils who failed their test because of this scenario in the past,” he said.
Brendan said that once the council l informed him of the works which neededdd ddoing i he wrote to all councillors to see could they use some of their discretionary budget to help fund the project.
This is where each councouncillor can direct an amount fromf an annuall amount they receive fo r such works.
“Within a few days I had secured the funding and just last week, the project was completed,”
he said.
Brendan paid thanks to the councillors who came on board to assist, Sinead Maguire, Gino O’Boyle, Tom MacSharry, Marie Casserly, Rosaleen O’Grady, Donal Gilroy and Thomas Walsh He also paid tribute to Conor McCann
and Pauline Langan of Sligo County Council who helped bring the project to fruition.
“In a world where many people complain about public representatives and the public bodies, this is a good news story and one which could well save lives,” said Brendan.