Urgent Petition for Enhanced Road Safety Measures Around Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School

Dear Parent/Guardian/Resident,

I am writing this petition with a deep concern regarding the hazardous situation on the Bracker O’ Regan Rd and Caherslee road surrounding Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School. While the school premises provide a secure and safe environment for our children, as parents and guardians, we feel a collective responsibility to enhance the accessibility and safety of pupils arriving at and departing from school.

One of the most significant safety concerns expressed by parents is inconsiderate and dangerous parking outside the school, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. This heightened activity zone, involving a mix of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, has unfortunately led to two hit-and-run incidents and two very close calls in the last 18 months. Local Gardaí have issued an appeal in Tralee to identify the car and driver of one of these incidents. While no serious injuries occurred, the physical and emotional impact on the school and the wider community underscores the urgency of addressing the safety issues surrounding these roads.

These incidents highlight the imminent danger that the current road conditions pose. We firmly believe that immediate action from the council is crucial to prevent further injuries or, worse, a fatality. With 1,350 students in the school, many of whom are willing to cycle or walk but refrain from doing so due to safety concerns. Despite in-school awareness and education, students may not fully comprehend the risks until they experience them firsthand. Distractions such as mobile phones contribute to this risk, making the situation even more critical. It is imperative that we urgently review the traffic management in the area to mitigate these risks effectively.

We have been accepted as a pilot school for the Safe Routes to School Programme (https://greenschoolsireland.org/saferoutestoschool/).
The school is at stage 7 of 8 which encompasses gaining community support. We strongly believe that with your endorsement of our petition, we can move this to the final stage of delivery. During this stage, local authorities will undertake proposed interventions to the infrastructure at the front of the school.

As an immediate measure, we propose reducing speed limits during peak school pick-up and drop-off times. Additionally, we recommend installing more bollards on both sides of the two zebra crossings to deter parking in these critical areas.

We sincerely hope that this petition serves as a catalyst for open communication and collaborative efforts to implement positive changes that prioritise the safety of our students. We kindly request your immediate attention to this matter and look forward to working together to create a safer environment for our children.

We ask that you sign this document and state your locality A similar petition will be disseminated amongst the student population. Please feel free to share this document with your neighbours and friends who are also impacted by this issue.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Angie Baily
Chair of the Parents’ Council