Danger on the red

A number of motorists have contacted the Diary about a problem they have with the sequencing of the traffic lights at The Hideout corner.



The problem is for those motorists coming from the south end of the town who want to turn right into the New Abbey Road. Since the new lights were installed, the former filter to the right was taken away.

Now there is no safe time when those waiting can do their turn. When the northbound green light comes on, so too is the green light for oncoming traffic.

So the right-turning motorist has to wait until there's no oncoming traffic, or slip quickly across when the northbound light goes red.

Trouble is, at that point the southbound light is still green, along with the filter from the north to the Curragh Road, and there's a likelihood that a southbound motorist will thump the turning one who believes the lights are red both ways. A simple solution would be to restore the filter, and allow the turning vehicles from the south to New Abbey Road and from the north to the Curragh Road to make their moves at the same time.

It is currently an unsatisfactory situation, it is frustratiing, and it is really dangerous. It should be fixed immediately.

Brian Byrne.