Road safety campaigner condemns 'downright insanity' of some drivers after Forss site visit
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The actions of some drivers on the A836 between Dounreay and Thurso have been condemned as "downright insanity".
Iain Gregory, a member of Forss Campaign Group, made the comment after attending an hour-long site visit at the Forss straight on Monday to get a close-up understanding of some of the road safety concerns raised by local residents.
He was part of a gathering that included Highland councillors, community councillors and roads officials as well as Dounreay's managing director Mark Rouse.
Mr Gregory was shocked by what he saw, describing some of the irresponsible driving as "beyond belief".
The campaign group is seeking a reduced speed limit and other traffic-calming measures on the route leading through Forss, which is used by motorists travelling to and from Dounreay and Vulcan and is part of the North Coast 500.
Mr Gregory, who co-founded Caithness Roads Recovery last year, is a retired police area commander and an experienced road accident investigator. He said he witnessed "numerous examples of dangerous driving" and "grossly excessive speeds" on Monday.
He said: "I was parked at Forss hall, with a colleague, awaiting the arrival of the rest of the group when, just after 3pm, we saw a group of hatchbacks, coming from the Dounreay direction, overtaking one another on the straight, and they passed the hall at speeds estimated by us to be in the 75 to 85 mph range. They did not of course see us, as their main intention seemed to be to overtake each other and they were completely unaware of anything else.
"When the group convened outside a house on the straight, we saw car after car overtaking right past the houses, high-speed manoeuvres and downright insanity on the part of many drivers.
"We comprised a group of 10 people, some in hi-vis jackets, standing beside the road, and yet cars were overtaking each other and flying past us at speeds way over the current 60 mph limit.
"I personally counted at least half a dozen overtakes which would merit an instant report to the procurator fiscal. As one presumes that most of these people are simply going home from work, this is beyond belief.
"We also saw a school pupil having to walk along a ditch to get home, the road being simply too dangerous to cross, with drivers flying past them, feet away, at grossly excessive speeds."
Also taking part in the visit were Highland councillors Struan Mackie and Matthew Reiss, community councillors David Craig, Thelma Mackenzie and Ron Gunn and senior representatives of Highland Council's roads department, along with Mr Rouse and Gordon McIntosh, chairman of the Dounreay traffic management working group.
Mr Gregory said a wide-ranging discussion took place during which the campaigners highlighted the "alarming" accident statistics for the area and the need for a "village gateway" as well as other measures.
It was agreed that the council officials would report back shortly.
Mr Gregory added: "We are delighted that senior council staff have now seen the situation for themselves, and the support given by Mr Rouse and his staff is hugely beneficial and very much appreciated. This situation can, and will, be dealt with – it has to be before tragedy occurs."
Mr Rouse said: "Safety on this and every other road has to be a priority. I found Monday's meeting very useful and I commend the road safety group for its commitment.
"I am personally committed to seeing a real change in driver behaviour through the village of Forss and we will continue to engage with everyone necessary to achieve this."
Councillor Reiss, a former area police commander, said: “I saw maybe half a dozen vehicles carrying out overtaking manoeuvres on the Forss straight, most at or close to the roadside houses. All I can say to those drivers, at least one of whom I recognised, is: why?
"You are saving a few seconds on your journey home but risking lives, your licence, your job and an appearance at Wick Sheriff Court. For what?
"After the meeting I spoke to a resident who told me other drivers were starting overtakes but then braking because they could see yellow jackets up ahead – so they knew what they were doing was wrong. To the reasonable question of 'why do this?' I have no answer.”
