GUIDANCE from GPS navigation systems continues to cause problems along “unsuitable roads” in West Clare.
Citing “continued issues around Sat Nav guidance choosing the shortest route from A to B resulting in traffic being directed along unsuitable roads,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) appealed to the West Clare Municipal District to erect signs with the instruction ‘local access only, do not follow GPS navigation’. This motion was seconded by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG).
Senior executive engineer, Alan Kennelly acknowledged that motorists have been directed “along roads that are not always suitable for volumes of traffic”. He said he has witnessed the issue himself when arriving into West Clare, “When using the Killimer – Tarbert ferry, I notice tourist’s cars using some of the smaller roads around Killimer. I assume that they are being guided by sat-nav. I sometimes encounter bursts of ferry traffic coming against me on these smaller roads, and it can be difficult for cars to pass safely”.
He added, “If the councillor would be kind enough to supply me with a list of the roads where sat-nav directions cause an issue, the West Clare MD will look at erecting suitable signage along these roads, if appropriate to do so”.
Over the summer, “one poor farmer didn’t get the hay done because he was so busy pulling cars from the ditch,” Cllr Lynch flagged. “It is becoming a huge problem,” he said while committing to put money from his own General Municipal Allocation (GMA) towards the signage.
An alternative approach was suggested by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), “we might invite the well-spoken lady to the county for the weekend, drive her around the county for the weekend and she might change her ways”.
Lynch responded, “the fastest way or the shortest mileage are the two questions she will ask but not which is the safest and therein the problem lies”.
Similar thinking is needed when it comes to diverting buses and campervans from certain roads, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) maintained. Cllr Liam Grant (GP) queried if only “certain signs” could be put in place and senior executive engineer, Enda MacNamara advised that it was dependent on the “road and location”.
