Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MALE PEDESTRIAN IS KILLED IN CRASH
Safety fears raised on stretch of road where victim was fatally injured
THE road where a man was killed in a car crash yesterday has been at the centre of calls for improved safety, it emerged last night.
The pedestrian died on the Saintfield Road close to the Carryduff roundabout on the outskirts of South Belfast at around 1.45pm.
The crash lead to the road being closed for a number of hours in both directions with rush-hour commuters directed on to side road diversions.
DUP Councillor Ben Mallon told the Mirror he and colleagues as well as community groups have been appealing for measures to enhance safety on the road for a number of years.
He added: “I don’t know the circumstances of today’s tragedy but I would offer my condolences to this man’s family at this very difficult time.
“I have to say the issue of safety, the speed and sheer volume of traffic on the Saintfield Road has been raised a number of times with Transport NI.
“The speed limit at this stretch of road is 50mph and there are long straight stretches leading up to it.
“There’s also been a huge growth in the population with more developments being built, more families moving in.
“Yet, I feel, the roads infrastructure has just not kept up. Down the road, just before Brackenvale there’s one of those signs that flashes your speed at passing drivers but it hasn’t worked in ages.
“Something needs to be done – for example reducing the speed limit to 40mph.
“A lot of people cross that road to go over to Knockbracken Reservoir to walk dogs etc but it’s a 50mph road with a huge amount of traffic on it.
“At our last council meeting we organised an all-party group to meet with Transport NI to raise this issue again.
“But there has been a consistent call, as long as I’ve been a councillor since 2014, for more to be done. There’s been letters written and contact made with Transport NI by Emma Pengelly MP.
“I feel there needs to be a more pro-active approach to addressing the issues on the Saintfield Road.”
The police confirmed a “male pedestrian has died following a road traffic collision on the Saintfield Road in Carryduff in Belfast earlier today Thursday, August 31”.
The spokesman added: “The collision occurred at approximately 1.45pm at the junction of Baronscourt. There are no further details at this time.
“Police are appealing for witnesses to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on the non-emergency 101 number, quoting the reference 637 of 31/08/17.”