West Fife killer road in national spotlight
Graham Gibson • Published 22 Jul 2011 08:30
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Gerry McMullan campaigning by the A985.
Picture: Jim Payne
A NEW BBC documentary on killer roads is set to feature a West Fife route notorious for its accident blackspot junction.
London-based Reef Television are investigating the A985 Rosyth to Kincardine route as part of a five-part series called Britain's Killer Roads.
The accident-prone A985 has witnessed numerous accidents and only last December Crombie man Grant Sinclair was killed after being hit by a car as he walked along the road on a Saturday night.
Director Owen Rodd claimed they were initially attracted to the route due to it being "statistically one of the most improved roads in the country" for accidents.
However, the film-makers soon discovered passions still run high among campaigners desperate to see more improvements made to the road, particularly at the "extremely dangerous" junction turning into Limekilns.
West Fife and Coastal Villages councillor Gerry McMullan (right) has lobbied successfully for increased road safety measures on the A985 in the past, such as speed-activated warning signs.
He warned, "There are still some serious areas within that 20-mile stretch of road and Transport Scotland have put in no significant amounts of money to make the road safer for drivers.
"A great deal of work needs to be done and they have to look at the bigger picture and longer term.
"With all the work that's meant to be coming into Rosyth, with the aircraft carriers and new Forth crossing, it is going to put such a huge amount of pressure on the A985.
"Transport Scotland have to be proactive instead of being reactive in bringing in safety measures for that road."
The Limekilns junction has become a notoriously precarious spot among village residents trying to pull out on to the main carriageway.
At a meeting with the documentary makers one local resident, who did not want to be named, described his first hand experience of how dangerous the junction could be.
He said, "My late wife was driving and when we got to the junction three cars were coming from Rosyth about 300 yards away.
"There was no traffic coming from Kincardine and the first car started its left winker to turn into Limekilns.
"My wife pulled out and was halfway across the junction when idiot number two came alongside the front car doing about 60mph.
"If my wife had not accelerated I would not be here today as he would have rammed us at 60mph.
"She had a hell of a job and had to put her foot on the throttle and go for it.
"That junction is a disaster waiting to happen and waiting for another fatality."
Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council chair Suze Anderson said, "That happens on a daily basis.
"Sometimes it can be your only chance to get out and if someone comes flying over the hill from Rosyth it can be extremely dangerous.
"It's a subject that appears every month at the community council. It almost feels like the changes that were made to the old road have only increased the options to go wrong.
"Before, traffic would be backed up along the road when somebody wanted to turn into the junction. Now there are issues with enough space to overtake and speed."
Councillor McMullan said he believed a roundabout or traffic lights were necessary to make the junction safer.
"The traffic lights could be temporary, switching them on at 6.30am to 10am, then again from 4pm to 7.30pm, giving people the opportunity to get out safely."
He added that when he had asked Transport Scotland officers what improvements were viable he was told that a roundabout would be too expensive.
"They said the amount of investment could not be justified for an area of road which is not as bad as other roads in Scotland.
"I then asked why and I was informed that there were not enough fatalities or traffic to warrant such expenditure.
"I asked exactly how many fatal injuries does it take to have a dangerous junction improved?
"I was told that if a major accident happened with many injuries this junction would certainly need to be improved straight away."
A Transport Scotland spokesman said, "We have undertaken a number of safety improvements on the A985, including speed limit reduction, installation of vehicle-activated signage and surface treatments.
"Whilst there has been a reduction in accidents along this route following these improvements, we continue to monitor the road and assess its safety performance."
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 20 Jul 11
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Jo hardy
Unregistered User
Jul 22, 14:48
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anti sun campaign
Unregistered User
Jul 22, 16:30
Report commentWho is this councillor McMullan gets voted in then lies dormant for most of his time spent as a councillor,oh yes the local council elections are just round the corner.Now I expect to hear the reply's he did this he did that,I know what he didn't do and that was to hold surgeries in his constituency.
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Yes 14
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The Stig
Unregistered User
Jul 22, 20:00
Report commentDown to numpty drivers well over 50mph speed limit. Standard of driving is awful.
Recommend? Yes 10
No 1
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sensi bill
Unregistered User
Jul 24, 00:29
Report commentspeed can kill on any road not just this one
Recommend? Yes 11
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Gerry13
5 posts
Jul 24, 13:06
Report commentThe programme to being made is about the condition of dangerous roads in Scotland. and unfortunately not the dangerous drivers who use the road.
I made exactly the say comments as Jo Hardy, The Stig and sensi bill but was informed that this is not of interest to the series of programmes being made.
It's thanks to the residents of Limekilns, Charlestown and Cairneyhill who came forward with their own stories which highlighted the continuing dangers on this road. We all know where the dangerous points are but unfortunately there are drivers who are moronic enough too live dangerously putting other at risk.
Looks like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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The Stig
Unregistered User
Jul 24, 18:54
Report commentI agree Gerry roads aren't the problem it's the stupidity of drivers who put others at risk.We have travelled up the A9 many times and witnessed unbelievable driving and they call that a killer road.Unless more is done to tackle the idiot drivers then the problem will go on.The Kincardine road is one we use often with no problems it's the drivers that pose the risks.
Recommend? Yes 3
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Gerry13
5 posts
Jul 25, 18:37
Report commentI have had really nice comments about this article and wish to thank the Dunfermline Press and those people who voiced their opinions on this page. Agree or disagree but one thing for sure, if this issue makes everyone think about how they drive then this is all worthwhile.
It has certainly made me take notice.
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claire
Unregistered User
Jul 26, 22:48
Report commentThat road is an absolute death trap, however, notable, the reason i think so is beacause a drunk driver smashed into me on that road 3 years ago at pattismuir, almsot killing me, its about time something was done not only about the speed limites etc but also the way in which drunk drivers are dealt with in the courts.
Recommend? Yes 4
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The Stig
Unregistered User
Jul 27, 17:52
Report commentAgain Claire it is the driver NOT the road that is the danger. The driver in question could have struck on any road.Hope you are recovered x
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Hotshot
Unregistered User
Jul 28, 10:26
Report commentPrecisely. I think the mitigating word here is "drunk". Funny that, roads becoming culpable when alcohol is involved.
Recommend? Yes 3
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fizrar6
3 posts
Jul 28, 14:47
Report commentI am a regular use of the A985 and I forever witness residents from Limekilns pulling out into traffic, which is not exceeding the speed limit, and then dawdling along between 25mph & 30mph. This causes everyone stuck behind to brake and results in frustration from normal law abiding drivers. Likewise when turning left into Limekilns, give other drivers some advance warning of your intentions. Don't crawl alomg at 30mph and stick you left indicator on at the very last second before turning off.I might add that I have turned right from that junction on many occasions and with a little care and common-sense it is not beyond the scope of a competent driver.
Recommend? Yes 4
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The Stig
Unregistered User
Jul 28, 17:07
Report commentI witnessed high speed overtaking on Carnock road this very morning on a blind bend.Just missed on-coming traffic !!.Road defo not at fault just lunacy of driver-in-a-hurry syndrome.
Recommend? Yes 2
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Hotwheels
Unregistered User
Jul 28, 17:33
Report commentJust out of interest, what is the death toll arising from road traffic accidents, say in the last 10 years on the A985 stretch between the two bridges. The pedestrian aside who's mentioned in the article, I cannot recall one for a good number of years now. I'm not being flippant here, but this article is a little lacking on facts, yet is classed as a "killer" road.
Recommend? Yes 2
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sunshine
Unregistered User
Jul 29, 19:18
Report commentIts the amount of idiots you see using there phones while driving in the dunfermline and Rosyth area. The police realy need to come down hard on these people! I beleive it comes down to the care of drivers and not the roads. you see it all the time, drivers right up the back of you, taking over 1, 2 cars at once. Its madness.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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******
Aug 3, 10:17
Report commentThis comment has been removed by a moderator
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The Stig
Unregistered User
Aug 3, 16:22
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