Accident blackspot to get safety upgrade

Aug 21 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A ROAD safety upgrade is about to get underway at a notorious accident blackspot in Perth, police revealed yesterday.

Trunk road contractors Bear Scotland will start work on £85,000-worth of anti-speed measures at Barnhill on Sunday night following a series of articles in the PA highlighting the junction’s alarming accident rate.

It emerged yesterday that a senior road policing officer attending an emergency at the site last Saturday night cheated death when a disorientated driver ploughed into his car.

The worrying incident happened while officers were attending at a single-car accident at the Barnhill junction at around 8.30pm, just hours after five people were pulled from their mangled people carrier in a separate dramatic episode.

Yesterday, Inspector Grant Edward from Tayside Police’s road policing unit revealed how close his colleague came to being seriously injured, or worse.

“A vehicle had lost control approaching the Barnhill junction and veered to the offside,” Insp Edward told the PA.

“It then spun around and landed on the crash barrier. Moments later, the road policing vehicle arrived to protect the scene with its blue lights on.

“Officers were assisting the motorist when a vehicle travelling towards Dundee at an inappropriate speed following heavy rain lost control and collided with the rear of their marked Volvo.

“One of the officers managed to get out of the way, but another was struck by the police vehicle as it was hit and was knocked forwards and to the side.

“He was injured when he was thrown across the bonnet, but fortunately not seriously.”

Since being involved in the accident, the 45-year-old male officer has been recuperating at home and is expected to return to work soon.

But, according to Insp Edward, the lucky escape has only served to underline the need for action.

“It causes me acute concern that a traffic officer was injured whilst rendering assistance to somebody who had already come off,” he said.

“I will be reviewing the full circumstances of the first accident to make sure there were no other factors involved other than the junction’s design.”

Perth councillor Peter Barrett is also demanding “urgent measures” at Barnhill’s Dundee-bound on-ramp.

“I was concerned when I passed the latest accident with the police in attendance,” he said yesterday.

“Clearly the measures introduced on the lane dedicated to traffic bound for Dundee have so far failed to eliminate accidents.”

Cllr Barrett said he approved of plans to treat the Dundee lane with an anti-skid coat, re-align markings and set studs into the surface, all next week.

Although a ‘crash cushion’ and further barriers are due to be installed later, he insisted the key to cutting the accident rate was responsible driving.

“These measures have been agreed in consultation with the police but my biggest concern is how to reduce the speed of approach of vehicles coming from Perth to join the motorway, to ensure that drivers maintain control of their vehicle and manoeuvre onto the on-ramp safely,” he said.

“I will be asking Bear Scotland to give urgent consideration on how this can be addressed.”

Insp Edward said that besides the prospect of being killed or seriously injured, there were a host of other reasons why motorists should proceed with caution at Barnhill.

“If you’re involved in an accident your vehicle may not be recoverable,” he said.

“Its loss can potentially impact on your family, livelihood and employment and there may be a legal process to go through before insurers pay up.”