*The Strand Line in Kilkee.
INCREASED signage on the roads of West Clare is needed to counteract satellite navigation systems sending visitors to the county astray according to local councillors.
Visitors to West Clare via the Tarbert to Killimer ferry are among those taking the wrong routes when landing in Co Clare, elected members of the West Clare Municipal District have said.
A separate incident saw a German family suffer “a serious accident” in Kilkee after turning the wrong way in a campervan which led to the air ambulance and paramedics getting called.
In a proposal before the West Clare MD, Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) asked the local authority to “review signage on our local roads prioritising; churches, graveyards, next town and historical monuments”.
Senior executive engineer in the West Clare MD, Alan Kennelly flagged, “With the advent of satellite navigation readily available in cars and on phones, road signs are perhaps as not as important as they once were. However, it must be acknowledged that not everyone uses satellite navigation. When in unfamiliar territory I find myself confirming that my satellite navigation has me on the correct route by referencing road signs. So, road signs still have an important role”.
Kennelly explained, “Road signs are erected in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual which is a national document. If there are areas where an additional sign is required on the local or regional road network, if the councillor lets me know I will have a sign or signs erected.
Speaking at a meeting of the West Clare MD, Cllr Shannon commented, “the Sat Nav works fine on national and regional roads but going into local roads it is getting more challenging”. He believed the addition of “a few more signs” would “improve the local network and benefit tourists and strangers coming into the county”.
He continued, “the majority of people on holidays looks for signs and their Sat Nav. It is a crazy situation with people going up the wrong way from the ferry after they get off”. The addition of a couple of signs “won’t break the bank,” the Mullagh man maintained.
Supporting the motion, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) outlined, “Signage and the Sat Nav is a bit of an issue”. She highlighted a recent accident in Kilkee as a result of a visiting family taking the wrong turn. “I see where you’re coming from in relation to particular signs and ensuring we have signage, there was an incident where a German couple and five month old baby went down the wrong way by The Strand Line which has been resurfaced, they had a serious accident, an air ambulance was called but couldn’t make it, they were waiting two hours for an ambulance which is another issue, they were sent down the wrong road”. She said, “Local people have said it wasn’t the first campervan to go down that road”.
Also rowing in behind the proposal was Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) who remarked, “put up the signs where appropriate”.
