I witnessed a near fatal accident involving a 8 year old child on the 21 of July 2021 around 7pm. The child ran onto the busy Dundrum Road at the National Trust Murlough Beach Nature Reserve near Newcastle County Down in Northern Ireland,UK, were a van tried to stop urgently and swerved to avoid the child but this unfortunate accident occurred resulting in a critical head injury, I was second person to attend the child, another member of the public rushed to help me and CPR was performed at the scene and after days of medical care the child is now stable in hospital but still extremely badly injured!

The driver of the van done everything they possibly could to avoid this terrible accident and they also had their own children in the vehicle who all suffered shock and trauma at the scene.

This terrible accident should and could of been avoided if there were proper measures in place for the public to cross this busy 2 lane, 60mph speed limit, road safely, which is at a entrance to the beach facing a public car park on the opposite side of the road. 2 weeks before this fatal accident another child was involved in a similar accident on the same stretch of road. I spoke to local Politicians who say they have been trying for 2 years to get the Department of Infrastructure and their Roads Service Department to make the road safe for all public members and road users.                                                                                                                             

This area is known as a hotspot for road traffic collisions involving pedestrians and road users by the Police Service and Emergency Services of Northern Ireland as well as the local community and members of government parties

I would like to call upon the Department of Infrastructure and their Roads Service Department to address this urgent and life threatening road hazard as a top priority issue before another child has to be brought back to life as a result of a unsafe road.

These accidents could of been prevented if the proper road safety measures were put in place, so we have no choice but to call for support with 4 simple ideas that we have listed below for the Department of Infrastructure and their Roads Service Department to act upon immediately.     

They are as follows.....

A pedestrian Crossing is the main priority for public road safety for adults and children and dog walkers and their family pets. 

A reduction in speed limit from 60mph to 40mph       

Speed Bumps on both sides of the road, both before and after the walkway entrance to the National Trust Murlough Beach Nature Reserve

Pedestrian Road Warning Signs for public awareness for road safety

We hope you will help us by signing this petition as it is extremely needed to keep people safe and to protect our children's lives as well as safety for roads users.

We all thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts for your help with this urgent matter!

Thank you!