MSP’s relief as safety improved at killer junction

Jul 22 2011 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

OBSTRUCTIVE road signage at a killer west Perthshire junction has now been relocated.

On site to inspect the work at the Madderty/St Davids crossroads between Perth and Crieff, Liz Smith, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, breathed a sigh of relief.

Following a fatal crash on February 23 last year, where Muthill woman, Carrie Anderson (29), died after driving straight into the path of a minibus, Ms Smith launched a campaign for improved safety measures.

She successfully lobbied roads authority, Perth and Kinross Council, as well as Transport Scotland, to relocate a signpost which she claimed blocked the vision of some drivers.

Speaking yesterday, she said she was delighted that the signage had now been moved.

“The previous location badly obscured the view of eastbound traffic for any motorists who were waiting to cross the junction from the Gorthy Road and it was also difficult to see some of the signage travelling on the main road,” she said.

“There is a particularly bad ‘hidden dip’ on one stretch just along from the junction and, as well as one fatal accident, there have been several more minor accidents and near misses, all causing considerable concern to local residents.

“Now that the council has also cut the verges, this junction is much safer than it was before and it is much clearer in terms of good vision in every direction.”

In October last year, a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) at Perth Sheriff Court came to no conclusion as to why Ms Anderson was not wearing her seat belt.

Neither could the FAI explain why she had driven her Peugeot 206 Coupe from the minor Gorthy to Auchterarder Road straight into the path of a Renault minibus on the Crieff to Perth back road on a clear day at 1.20pm.

During the impact, the young woman sustained serious neck and head injuries when thrown through the windscreen and died at the scene.

October’s hearing was conducted in line with legislation as at the time of Carrie’s death she was undertaking work-related duties.

A Tayside Police witness appearing at the FAI, crash investigator Aileen Walker, concluded that Carrie could have survived the collision if she had been wearing a seatbelt.

PC Walker said no defects had been found in either vehicle and in her opinion speed had not been a factor.