A pensioner who says she was almost “sucked onto the road” by the speed of two passing lorries has joined a rising number of people calling for new speed limits on a busy north-east route.
Irene Duncan is one of many Boddam residents who want the 40mph zone at Stirling Village extended to cover more of the busy A90 Ellon to Peterhead road.
The entry to the Millbank Coaches and Central Taxis depot is opposite the junction to Peterhead Power Station and the viewpoint to the north of the village, and locals claim the area is a hotspot for near-misses which put peoples lives at risk.
Mrs Duncan said she has personally experienced many problems at the spot and believes she “could have been killed” there.
The Boddam Community Council member said: “I had a knee replacement, and thought I would go for a walk, so I waited to cross the road.
“But I saw two lorries coming from the Peterhead direction and had two sticks so I waited.
“I had to wrap my arms around a pillar so I wouldn’t get sucked onto the road by the force of them passing, with the speed they were going at.
“I could have been killed.”
Managing director of Central Taxis, Paul Anderson, works from the depot and has many vehicles going in and out at the spot every day.
He said: “Everyone around here just wants the 40mph extended to cover the junctions.
“In the last few months, there have been more than five rear-end crashes and countless pile-ups and collisions.
“The community council has tried for years to get the speed limit moved but we’re always told it’s not a dangerous road.
“We’re worried it will take more fatalities for something to be done.”
Neil Wilson, who has lived near the junction for 45 years, recalled countless incidents.
He said: “Something has to be done or more people will get killed.”
Resident, Lynne Anderson, added: “They’ve moved the speed limits in other villages so they should be able to do it here.”
Transport Scotland assesses the safety of trunk roads every year, including the stretch of the A90 at Stirling Village.
A spokesman said: “Road safety is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.
“On the section of the A90 at Stirling Village a recent review of the speed limit concluded that it was appropriate to retain the current 40mph speed limit and no extension was required at this time.
“Measures to improve facilities for pedestrians crossing the A90 at Stirling Village are programmed to be constructed this summer, including improvements to the two central traffic islands and footway crossing points connecting these islands.”
Problems at the stretch date back years and transport officials launched an investigation after a fatality in 2013.
Ann Reid, 48, was hit by a lorry in the village that September, just a few seconds after disembarking a bus. She died from her injuries at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
