Fahan residents call for range of measures to reduce speeding traffic

Residents of Fahan have called on Donegal County Council to implement a range of measures to reduce the speed of traffic travelling through the village.

There have been ongoing concerns in recent years about speeding vehicles on the 2km-stretch of the R238 through the village which is governed by a 60kp/h zone.

Ongoing concerns about road safety were raised at a meeting of the Fahan Residents Association in June.

Former Fine Gael senator Catherine Noone, who lives in the village, said residents have requested Donegal County Council considers a range of measures to encourage motorists to slow down.

During a meeting with a council roads engineer on behalf of the residents, Noone said a number of options were discussed to encourage drivers to slow down. 

The speed some vehicles are going through the village has led to some residents complaining of noise pollution, she said.

“I know myself from driving in the village and lots of other residents say to me when they turn on their indicators to turn into their house, the car behind them is right up. The traffic is definitely moving at a faster pace than the speed limit,” she said.

“Although Fahan doesn’t look like a typical village as the road through is straight, residents are trying to remind drivers that it is a village and are hoping they will slow down as people may want to cross the road.”

The residents are calling for measures including more signage to highlight the speed limit, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and safety barriers on sections of narrow footpath. They also want the council to consider reducing the 60km/h speed limit to 40 or 50 km/h.

“I’ve often walked in the village and there is foliage growing out and you might put your foot on the road to avoid hitting a tree but actually you could be taking your life in your own hands, with the volume of traffic,” Noone said.

“We have spoken about reducing the speed limit but Donegal County Council didn’t seem as optimistic compared to some of the other measures we discussed.”

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has taken over the management of a proposed greenway to Buncrana through Fahan. Noone says the final route that is chosen could see the speed limit reduced.

“A route hasn’t been decided yet, however, there were conservation concerns about it going along the old railway line. If the greenway goes through the village itself, they’d  have to make accommodations for cyclists which could lead to a reduction in speed.”