Dad’s warning over ‘ death- trap’ road
A driver claims a road is a “death- trap waiting to happen” after counting seven crashes in four months.
Keen fisherman Jim Smith, of Prestwick, uses the A713 to Dalmellington road regularly and urged road bosses to take action after his son, Kevin, 32, crashed his car in May.
Just an hour earlier, another vehicle did the same and landed in the nearby burn.
Jim, 58, said: “My boy could’ve been killed that night.
“He spun the car, hit the kerb and the car rolled.
“I was talking to an officer and he said, ‘ Oh he’s not the only one tonight’, and he took me across the road and there was a car in the burn.
“It’s a death- trap waiting to happen.
“I couldn’t live with myself if someone gets wiped out and killed.”
Kevin was off work for a month after the accident due left him with neck and back pain.
Jim has relentlessly contacted Ayrshire Roads Alliance to make them aware of the dangers of the road but insisited he was never called back.
The retired lorry driver said he telephoned the roads authority EIGHT times regarding the road and added: “They’ve not been interested.
“If somebody gets killed on this part of the road and there’s a report, I’ll be the main witness to say that I’ve tried to speak to everybody and raise awareness of what’s happening at this bit of road.”
Doon Valley councillor John Bell has confirmed new warning signs and chevrons will be installed with temporary ones up in the meantime.
The SNP man is pushing for the road to be added to the skid resistance programme.
Councillor Bell said: “I’ve taken note of Mr Smith’s concerns and we’ve got action starting to be made.
“I’m keen to see the road added to the skid resistance programme too.”
Jim fears the main cause of concern could be oil spilling on to the road from a nearby access road, currently blocked off due to pylon installations by Scottish Power along Carsphairn road.
The steep hilled access slip had drain works installed to manipulate excess rainfall away from the road, but 3ft of drain works appears to missing.
Jim said: “They’ve missed 3ft – that’s the bit where it’s running straight on to the road.
“I’ve driven lorries all my life – I know what it’s like when you hit oil on the road.
“You just spin and lose control.”
A Scottish Power spokeswoman said the concerns raised are under investigation.
Ayrshire Roads Alliance were unable to comment.
I couldn’t live with myself if someone got wiped out