Local leaders are pushing for improved safety measures on a dangerous road in West Fife
Inverkeithing: Recently, Dave Dempsey has been urging the Council to consider adding a refuge island on the B916. This road, just off the B981, has gained a reputation for being a hotspot for accidents.
He mentioned that since 2024, he’s been trying to find ways to make it safer for pedestrians crossing the B916 Clockluinie Road at Fordell. Many locals rely on buses, and crossing such a busy road can be quite nerve-wracking.
Fife Council’s Transportation Service has said that this spot doesn’t meet the criteria for a traffic light crossing, which is a bit disappointing. They did suggest putting up some old ‘Elderly Persons Crossing’ signs, but that doesn’t really solve the problem. Lowering the speed limit isn’t the answer either, as many drivers ignore it.
There have been several accidents in the area over the years. Cllr Dave Barratt has been advocating for better safety measures on the main road next to Clockluinie Road. Last March, he was pleased to see a road accident reduction plan being developed, hoping it would lead to safer conditions.
He pointed out that this has been a long time coming, as it’s a regular accident spot. Cars often crash there, but not all incidents are reported to the council unless someone gets hurt. Still, there have been enough accidents to justify looking into a reduction program.
Cllr Barratt has been pushing for measures like flashing speed indicators and better road surfaces. The council is currently exploring all options to address the key factors contributing to these accidents, which he believes are mainly due to speed and the slippery conditions caused by the nearby woodland.
Even though the Council doesn’t think a pedestrian crossing is necessary on Clockluinie Road, Cllr Dempsey isn’t giving up. He’s asked the officers to consider an alternative solution.
He said, “That’s not the end of the story. I’ve asked them to look into and price a refuge island in the middle of the road. This way, pedestrians would only have to deal with one lane of traffic at a time.”
“After that, it’ll depend on budgets and priorities, as always. There’s still a long way to go with this project.”
