Viewpoint

T his week Dunbeg Community Council launched its petition calling for double white lines and new speed limits to be applied to the stretch of road between Dunbeg and Oban.

In recent weeks there have been a number of accidents on that stretch of the A85, with two involving multiple cars taking place this week. Fortunately, it seems, no- one was seriously injured.

While the community council is calling for these safety measures, Oban police say any changes will not have the desired effect, as they believe the accidents are down to a lack of concentration among drivers, many of them tourists coming to the area and not knowing the road.

But surely overtaking is an issue, with local drivers’ patience wearing thin as they sit behind a tourist doing 35mph in a 60mph zone, often taking chances where it’s not safe to do so but the road markings allow?

And the community’s concern is not just for road users. With the better weather more people are using the walkway to the cemetery at Pennyfuir, or using the cycle path to walk out to Dunbeg, returning to the town by the main road.

Surely a few white lines and a considered reduction in the speed limit is not going to break the bank, but could put the brakes on people taking a risk not only with their own lives, but with other drivers’ lives and possibly pedestrians?