‘I’m afraid to let my children walk on the footpaths’ – Louth residents at wits end over speeding traffic

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A series of traffic incidents along a “hazardous” stretch of road in Mell, Drogheda have left local residents fearing it has become “a race track”, it emerged this week,

Senator Alison Comyn, and local Councillor James Byrne, who visited the area in the last few days, are campaigning for immediate and urgent road safety measures along a section of the R168 in Mell, amid growing concern from residents.

In a meeting with local people they heard the road described the road as a “race track,” particularly the section between St. Joseph’s National School and the entrance to Riverview Estate, where traffic calming measures are completely absent.

“This situation is unacceptable,” said Senator Comyn. “Lives are at risk. I stood on this road and witnessed cars speeding past, just metres from where families live and children walk to school. Residents are living in fear, and it’s time for Louth County Council and the Department of Transport to step up.”

As reported in last week’s Drogheda Independent Cllr Byrne submitted a formal query to Louth County Council seeking traffic calming measures for the area but received what he described as a “disappointing and frustrating” response.

“We’re constantly told that low-cost safety measures are based on collision data,” Byrne said. “But now we’re being told the Council doesn’t even have access to that data because of GDPR. This is absurd. The Department of Transport holds the data, but without access to it, the Council says it cannot proceed with implementing safety measures — all while residents continue to face serious risks on a daily basis."

He added, "I would like to extend my thanks to my fellow Drogheda Councillors for supporting my Motion and for their valuable input to the discussion during our recent meeting".

Senator Comyn and Cllr. Byrne said residents had told them of “multiple recent accidents and the destruction of several vehicles.”

One local parent said, “I am afraid to let my children walk on the footpaths in case a car crashes into them. It shouldn't be like this. Many of us have had our cars destroyed.”

The R168 has some existing traffic calming measures in place along its length, but large stretches — including the one through Mell — remain unprotected.

Comyn and Byrne say they are now demanding access to collision data from the Department of Transport and are calling on Louth County Council to take proactive steps, with or without the data.

“This cannot be a box-ticking exercise. We do not need to wait for a fatality to act,” Senator Comyn added. “We will be pushing at every level of government to get this data released and ensure appropriate safety interventions are implemented without delay.”