"Only a matter of time" before serious accident in Thomastown, Co Kildare - councillor

It is “only a matter of time” before a serious accident occurs at the junction of Caragh-Newbridge Road and Rathangan-Naas Road in Thomastown, a Fianna Fáil councillor has stated.

Cllr Noel Heavey tabled a motion at a meeting of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District on Wednesday, December 18 2024.

In his motion, Cllr Heavey called on the council to produce a report on the frequency of vehicle collisions at the junction of Caragh-Newbridge Road with Rathangan-Naas Road in Thomastown “and what it might consider as appropriate to remediate this busy junction.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Heavey said there was an issue at the junction, where traffic was very busy and motorists “dart out” across the junction.

He said there is an accident at the location “most weeks”, and there was a serious accident on this road over the previous weekend.

According to Cllr Heavey, gardai know “every detail” of every accident that happens in the county, and his understanding was this information is forwarded to Kildare County Council, which then forwards it to the Road Safety Authority.

Calling for what he described as “joined-up thinking” on the issue, Cllr Heavey said it was “only a matter of time” before there was a very serious accident at the junction that would result “loss of life.”

It was “not appropriate”, he said, to have a low-cost safety improvement scheme carried out at the location, as suggested in the council's report.

Cllr Heavey said the issue was one of national importance, and called for the problem to be addressed.

Responding to Cllr Heavey, a council official pointed out that information relating to traffic collisions is not shared with Kildare County Council, and that the problem largely stemmed from driver behaviour.

This was a matter of enforcement for An Garda Síochána, she said.

Cllr Heavey said it was his understanding that An Garda Síochána shared accident information with Kildare County Council, and that it was “sinful” if this were not the case.

When accidents happen, he said, the people to do something about it are the municipal authority, and if they are not receiving this information, then this is “wrong.”

It was noted by the Cathaoirleach that Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (FG) is to join the Community Policing Board group, and this was a matter that could be brought up in that forum for clarification.

A report issued by Kildare County Council stated: 'The Kildare Newbridge Municipal District office does not have road collision records.

'This office agrees to list the junction between the L-7087 and L-7041 in Thomastown for consideration for low-cost safety improvement work schemes. All works are subject to budget and staff availability.'