Background and Use of Road Markings
The Council, as part of its statutory responsibilities, monitors personal injury accidents on the road network. It was identified that approximately 2 accidents, involving injuries, are taking place at this junction each year.
When Roads Officers looked at the layout of the junction it became apparent that the road markings could be amended and improved to bring them into line with current national guidance contained within Chapter 5 of the Traffic Signs Manual (PDF, 1.1MB)|
The changes to the road markings were implemented in March this year with a view to helping drivers negotiate the junction safely. The key change was the introduction of an additional give-way marking for drivers turning right from the A9 into Grandsable Road.
The Highway Code, Rule 172| states that drivers "MUST give way to traffic on the main road when emerging from a junction with broken white lines across the road."
The introduction of the additional give-way marking is intended to assist drivers in turning right out of the Grandsable Road by allowing them to concentrate more on accepting appropriate gaps in westbound traffic on the A9 (the main road). A diagram providing further information on how drivers should negotiate this type of junction layout is available to view (PDF, 130KB)|
As with all give-way lines, drivers must be aware that they may be required to give-way to other vehicles. Drivers emerging from Grandsable Road (the side road) may have already commenced their turn as another vehicle approaches the junction from the A9 intending to turn right into Grandsable Road.
With this type of junction layout, a vehicle that has commenced its turn from Grandsable Road has entered the A9 (the main road) and the vehicle approaching the junction from the A9 must be prepared to give-way to the emerging vehicle. Thereafter, the vehicle wishing to turn into the side road can pull forward, past the give-way line into the central reserve area, to wait until it is safe for them to complete their right turn.
Drivers on Grandsable Road must only pull out when there is a safe gap in traffic on the A9. A diagram providing further information on how drivers should negotiate this type of junction layout is available to view (PDF, 130KB)|.
Unfortunately a number of accidents have occurred since the road markings were amended. Drivers have contacted the Council, local Councillors and the Falkirk Herald to express their concern with regard to the changes and the recent accidents. However, Police reports on the accidents do not identify that the changes which have recently been introduced have been a direct cause of the accidents.
In the 14 years between 1995 and 2008, the average number of personal injury accidents at the junction was slightly less than two, with between zero and four accidents occurring each year. Unfortunately, four personal injury accidents have occurred in 2009 to date.
From data collected by Central Scotland Police, it has now become clear that the proportion of drivers having difficulty in turning right from
Grandsable Road is significantly higher than average. This suggests that there is a special problem at the site and data collected most recently has indicated what that might be.
It appears that, in four of the seven personal injury accidents in the period 2004-2008, a direction indicator on a vehicle travelling west from M9 Junction 5 Cadger's Brae Roundabout had failed to cancel. Expecting an approaching vehicle to turn left turn into Grandsable Road, a driver has pulled out on to the A9, only to collide with the other vehicle.
All four of the personal injury accidents at the junction in 2009 involved a driver attempting to turn out of Grandsable Road, and in one of these, it appears that a driver was misled by the indication provided by the driver of the vehicle on the main road.
Clearly, there is a potential to reduce accidents at this junction by addressing this issue. A sign will be erected to remind drivers travelling west on the A9 from M9 Junction 5 Cadger's Brae Roundabout, approaching Grandsable Road, to check that their indicators have cancelled.
In the meantime, drivers leaving M9 Junction 5 Cadger's Brae Roundabout roundabout need to bear in mind that their indicators may not self-cancel, and those entering the A9 from Grandsable Road need to bear in mind the advice contained within Highway Code, Rule 170|:
"Take extra care at junctions. You should not assume, when waiting at a junction, that a vehicle coming from the right and signaling left will actually turn. Wait and make sure."
The Council's Local Transport Strategy includes a proposal to improve the Grandsable junction. This project will be taken forward in consideration with the Council's other road safety proposals.
Please be assured that we will continue to monitor road safety at this junction and will make alterations to the current layout if required.