News

Replace motorway signs set on concrete pillars, urges roads expert

A man was killed in a one-car crash on the M1 on Friday afternoon. Picture by Tony Hendron
A man was killed in a one-car crash on the M1 on Friday afternoon. Picture by Tony Hendron A man was killed in a one-car crash on the M1 on Friday afternoon. Picture by Tony Hendron

TRANSPORT NI should consider replacing concrete pillars carrying signs along the north's motorways to improve safety, a roads expert has said.

Wesley Johnston said most of the pillars were built decades ago when cars tended to be slower and lighter.

He was speaking after a man died while travelling along the M1 at Tamnamore in Co Tyrone on Friday afternoon.

While the exact circumstances of the crash are being investigated, it is understood his grey Honda Civic struck a pillar between junction 13 and 14.

The man's name and age have not been released by police.

Mr Johnston, who runs a website dedicated to Northern Ireland's roads system, said new signs are either attached to 'passively safe' pillars which are designed to collapse on impact, or crash barriers are built around the signs.

"There isn't a lot of give in a concrete pillar," he said.

He said Transport NI was not compelled to change any concrete posts but it should consider doing so, particularly between junctions 12 and 13 of the M1 where motorists have to navigate a tight bend.

"In the 1960s it would have been less of an issue," he said.

"Then you would have had Ford Anglias that were travelling 40 or 50 miles an hour, not cars up to half a tonne travelling at 70 miles an hour.

"If Transport NI were to retrofit concrete posts it could prevent accidents happening in the future."

Mr Johnston said nine people have died on the north's motorways in the last five years including three deaths this year alone.

"The figures are too small to read anything into them but two deaths in three days - one on the day before Christmas Eve and one on Boxing Day - is notable."