Fears faded road markings and signs in busy Clare town could cause tragedy

Faded road markings, worn signage, and unclear pedestrian crossings in Ennis have raised safety concerns.

At the October meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Fianna Fail councillor Antoinette Baker Bashua called for "Clare County Council to undertake a comprehensive review of the condition of all road markings, painted signage, and pedestrian crossings throughout Ennis town."

She explained how "many markings are faded, worn or barely visible, compromising road safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike."

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To remedy this Cllr Baker Bashua proposed that the Council "develop and implement a programme to repaint and maintain all road markings and signage, ensuring they remain clear, visible and fit for purpose."

"Regular upkeep should be scheduled to maintain safety standards and improve navigation throughout the town."

Faded road markings, worn signage, and unclear pedestrian crossings increase the risk of traffic accidents by causing driver confusion.

This is as it makes it harder for drivers to understand lane positions and follow road rules, such as stop signs and left-turn-only lanes.

Pedestrians and cyclists are also at greater risk, as unclear road markings make it more difficult to identify safe crossing points, such as pedestrian crossings, and how to navigate junctions safely.

In response, Donnagh Murphy, Senior Executive Engineer, explained that the Ennis Municipal District (MD) typically carry out a quarterly review of all road markings within the Ennis Town and Municipal District areas.

He explained: "We do agree that road markings in some areas are faded or worn. Road Markings are expensive in terms of cost and labour, and with budget constraints, it can be difficult to prioritise road markings within the MD area.

"We engage competent contractors to undertake these specialist works, typically every three months or as and when required. We also listen carefully to members of the public  where markings have faded or where additional markings are required. Each of these requests are  logged on our internal CRM system.

"Any additional road markings are also first consulted with An Garda Siochana for their review and approval. We encourage any elected member or indeed their respective constituents to bring any road marking defects or concerns to our attention and it will be added to the next schedule of inspection works." he added.