AN ORMSARY man whose sister was killed by wooden barriers in the 1980s is backing calls to have the new style structures removed before someone else loses their life.
Matt Donald, an engineering manager, has trawled through hours of road legislation and manuals in a bid to find out why Transport Scotland has erected timber fencing along Argyll’s trunk roads.
Mr Donald’s sister, Jean, was killed just before her 21st birthday when the car she was traveling in struck the old style barriers near Cladich on the A819 Dalmally to Oban road on May 17, 1980.
Jean’s death was the last to occur in the area and resulted in another fatal accident enquiry in Oban.
Mr Donald said: ‘I never want anyone to go through what my family went through.
‘It was such an unnecessary waste of a young life, however the FAE and the subsequent removal of the barriers meant that others were saved.’
‘Why are Transport Scotland reinstating something so unsafe? The design may be slightly different, but it is not robust or fit for purpose.’
After reading the current Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, the document Transport Scotland adhere to when erecting the pedestrian fencing, Mr Donald has come across various issues he feels have been neglected by the government body.
He said: ‘They seem to have completely ignored their own procedures and guidelines on this issue and in particular the section; ‘where a guardrail is required for pedestrian safety near to a road with speeds in excess of 50mph, the guardrail should be located behind a safety Armco type barrier’
‘The barriers they have installed are a new hazard to motorists and in their own words require to have adequate Road Restraint systems installed to protect vehicular traffic.’
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: ‘Under the current design manual for roads and bridges the requirement for road restraint systems gives guidance that where guardrail is required for pedestrian safety needs in close proximity to a road with a speed 50mph or greater, the guardrail, and in particular its end posts should be located behind safety barrier.
Installed
‘The timber fencing which has been installed at several locations on the A83, is not classed as guardrail, and therefore the above clause/guidance does not apply.’
