1/ Driving the A78 daily from Wemyss Bay, I'm frustrated by the lack of road knowledge from people leaving from Inverkip at either junction going in either direction.

I notice the addition of National speed limit signs both ways between the two junctions now. Can I remind the people from Inverkip who do not know: THE SPEED LIMIT ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD IS 60! And, if you are going to pull out, be sure you can at least come up to speed without inconveniencing the driver you're pulling out in front of. Going south towards Largs, if you're not going to drive at the speed limit in this stretch please don't put my neighbours at risk by barrelling through Wemyss Bay at 50 instead of the limited 40!

I for one am sick of people pulling out of either junction and, when you catch them up because they are now in front of you, they jab their brakes in what can only be described as a "screw you!!" (as happened to me today!). If you cannot judge speed, don't pull out because, in case you can't tell, you don't have right of way coming out from either junction.

On the subject of development in the area, both Inverkip and Wemyss Bay can only be described as commuter estates now with neither having the proper facilities to serve current populations. This problem will only be exacerbated by more housing on the power station site without at least sitting down and considering the needs of these two areas...

A soon to be ex-Wemyss Bay resident

2/ I agree wholeheartedly. I accept that weather and road conditions may cause drivers to drive at speeds lower than the limit and I would expect them to do so as 60 mph is a limit, not a target.  Nonetheless, it is a daily occurance whereby a driver pulls out of the Inverkip junctions causing drivers on the main carriageway to brake. There is nothing wrong with the layout of the Inverkip juncitons, it is simply down to impatience and driver error. Equally, I have witnessed almost every preceding driver failing to reduce their speed to comply with the 40 and 30 mph speed restrictions in Wemyss Bay between the Ardgowan Rd junction and the border with Skelmorlie. The only way to change driver attitude is through punitive action!

Another Wemyss Bay resident!

3/ As an Inverkip driver trying to leave the village to join the A78 to go to Greenock, I am sick of the arrogance of many of the drivers coming from the Wemyss Bay direction flying towards the junctions to prevent Inverkip drivers from joining the A78 safely then braking furiously as soon as they have passed the junction. We are trying to cross two lines of traffic and, at peak times, this is often near impossible. I have watched this happen daily and these clowns make a sometimes dangerous stretch even more so by this idiotic driving! A number of drivers coming from this direction seem to set out to prevent Inverkip drivers joining the line of traffic. It is just pathetic. It's like a childish game of 'I'm not going to let you get out in front of me, na-na.' Grow up and get a life!

Fed up Inverkip Resident

4/ I would like to add my comments to those above in relation to the joining of Inverkip drivers to the A78.

In particular the utterly inconsiderate comments of the soon-to-be ex-Wemyss Bay resident. I am completely discombobulated by this driver's reference to the lack of road knowledge of people leaving Inverkip. I suggest this person tries reading the Highway Code for a bit of an education, in particular the following:

Rule 146: Adapt your driving to the appropriate type and condition of road you are on. In particular
1) do not treat speed limits as a target. It is often not appropriate or safe to drive at the maximum speed limit
2) take the road and traffic conditions into account. Be prepared to adjust your speed as a precaution
3) where there are junctions, be prepared for road users emerging

Rule 147: Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards all types of road users, especially those requiring extra care. You should slow down and hold back if a road user pulls out into your path at a junction. Allow them to get clear. Do not over-react by driving too close behind to intimidate them.

The fact of the matter is that residents from Inverkip are required to exit the village on to the A78 and a bit of consideration from drivers who are already on this stretch of road wouldn't go amiss. Driving along the stretch past Inverkip at 60mph is just stupidity in my opinion. Perhaps there should be a petition to lower the speed limit to 40mph at this section of the road for the safety of all road users.

A Considerate Driver, Inverkip

5/ Considerate Driver......and Fed up Inverkip Resident

Glad to see this stirs a few replies... I should point out that the Highway Code goes higher than Rule 146, if you can be bothered get yourself up to Rule 170 which talks about taking extra care at junctions including: “Do not cross or join a road until there is a gap large enough for you to do so safely

Be mindful of that last part.... if you can join safely. The main issue I have is not people joining the road but that they cannot seem to judge speed! ergo not joining safely...

Also what about rule 172?: The approach to a junction may have a ‘Give Way’ sign or a triangle marked on the road. You MUST give way to traffic on the main road when emerging from a junction with broken white lines across the road.

I love the way the Highway Code can be used to suit...... so it's not arrogance the drivers have on the main road... it's right of way?! Forgive me if that should be given up to people joining from a minor road...

Maybe the only way to sort this out is to place a roundabout at the problem junction? I should point out that I often use the shops there (maybe I shouldn't say that save I get a lynch mob looking for drivers from Wemyss Bay?) and I always check before pulling out either way and make every effort to get up to speed of any approaching vehicle.

I don't think it matters where I live... I could be from further down the coast or Greenock and still be sick of that junction.

Look forward to replies.

A Soon to be ex Wemyss Bay Resident

6/ All very interesting and I agree with number four comment -- we have too many drivers who believe that the speed limit is the average not the maximum, when it is "safe" to do so. I drive a large executive car and my wife a family car. It is amazing the attitude of other drivers when I am driving my wife's car. They adopt the bullying tactic which does not happen when I drive identically in my own car. On the subject of the junction at Inverkip. I do not live in the area now but did in the past use that road every day and still use it when we visit back to Inverclyde and it would seem that with the amount of new housing that has taken place in Inverkip that some sort of traffic control is needed before it becomes an accident black spot, even if it is a traffic lights system on a rush-hour timed control basis. As for the owner of comment number one, yep I come across many of your type down here in the heart of England and have in the past been required to attend the aftermath of their actions!

Name Supplied

7/ The comments I have read about the driving on the stretch of road (A78) adjoining the junctions with the village of Inverkip reminded me of an article on this website dated 23 December 2011 which began as follows:

COUNCILLORS backed a review of speed limits on Inverclyde roads which recommends making some 60mph stretches into 30mph and 50mph zones.

At that time I would have liked to have seen included the road which is the subject of this discussion which in my opinion should also be considered for a reduction in the speed limit.

I used to reside in Inverkip and saw many accidents at both junctions to the village. I still hear of many occurring.

When trying to emerge and turn right onto the A78 from the north junction (just in front of the wooden shack), a vehicle, particularly one bigger than a car, exiting the A78 to turn left into the village at this very junction, caused a blind spot when trying to see other vehicles heading south and at speed.

I personally felt it safer to wait until the vehicle had turned into Main St thereby affording me a clear view of traffic heading south.

Then of course you had to judge the speed of the vehicles on the A78 no matter what way you intended to travel.

Don't forget there is also another junction for the Kip Marina and the increased traffic that the still developing houses bring, and yet another potential accident risk.

While the limit is 60 m.p.h. on the A78, motorists will do this and more, unfortunately increasing the chances of accidents.

Solution: cut the speed limit; install traffic lights or measure of control to make the junctions safer.

Thanks

Craig

8/ Editor's Comment: Regarding comment seven; if readers click through to the story referred to they will see that the A78 at Inverkip is the responsibility of Transport Scotland who are "considering a change to the speed limit."

A largely ignored aspect of the planning application for a village at Inverkip Power Station is that one of the conditions Inverclyde Council planning department would insist on if permission were to be given is provision of a new roundabout at the northern junction of Inverkip Main Street and the A78 trunk road. [Power Station development article]

9/ I must admit to being somewhat dismayed by some of the comments on this piece.

If there is little or no traffic in front of me and I want to travel along here at 55 mph, then I am perfectly within my rights to do so.  The onus is on the driver wishing to pull out into this traffic to ensure that this is done safely.  This entails NOT causing the oncoming traffic to have to hit the brakes.  The amount of time that it may have taken you to find a suitable space to exit this junction is not my problem.

Ask yourself this question: When driving through Greenock, are you constantly observing the traffic waiting to exit every junction in your path with the proviso that, should they choose to pull out in front of you, you will have to slow down?  Or do you, as those dastardly drivers coming from Wemyss Bay do, proceed within the speed limit and although paying attention and due diligence to the traffic ahead, assume that those coming on to your stretch of road from adjoining junctions will do so only when there is a big enough gap to do so safely?

Admittedly it is slightly more difficult to judge when the approaching traffic is travelling at a higher speed but with a little bit of concentration, your average driver is more than capable of completing this manoeuvre safely.  Introducing a reduced speed limit could, in theory, make it a little easier to judge oncoming traffic and would undoubtedly make this junction safer but it may also cause more congestion along this stretch and therefore reduce the chance of finding a suitable gap into which you can exit.  This would then be of little use to anyone.

If traffic on this stretch is quite heavy and is therefore travelling a little slower, then I have no qualms about flashing my lights to signal to someone sitting at the junction that I am willing to let them come out in front of me and if required, will adjust my speed to allow you to do this safely.  What I do object to is the crazy people who think that because they can get out of the junction and in to the line of traffic that I am somehow obliged to slow down to about 20 – 30mph until they can get up to speed.  This is a very dangerous and inconsiderate practice and is likely to lead to further accidents.

Can I just ask the owner of comment Number Six, and I quote “As for the owner of comment number one, yep I come across many of your type down here in the heart of England and have in the past been required to attend the aftermath of their actions!”, are you implying that by driving within the speed limit and not having the ability to foresee the careless actions of other road users that the owner of comment Number One is somehow to blame for any accidents caused?  I sincerely hope that you are not a police officer!

FK Wemyss Bay resident

10/ I'm interested to see that this discussion seems to have polarized people..... you're either the one on the main road or the one trying to get out. I'd like to point out that, at some point in the day, I'm both but it's how I conduct myself on the first that seems to be causing the issues.

I raised this issue as a result of the proposed expansion of the area without consideration for the increased traffic and the resultant problems that would cause, but now I seem to have hit on the issue that I'm not the only one fed up with a lack of consideration shown to the drivers already on the A78.

Reading further down the comments there are many valid opinions but the one that sticks with me slightly is the suggestion (comment 6) that as a driver on the main road I'd somehow be responsible for any accident caused by a driver pulling out from a minor road. I take offence if I'm obeying the current speed limit but I'm given no room because someone can't judge speed or wait, that I'd be to blame for any subsequent accident. You are either police or recovery driver so may or may not know the full details of any "aftermaths" you've been to. I'd be interested to know how many were the result of normal traffic movement or poor judgement joining a main arterial road.

I do not speed on this road and never have but rather drive at the allowed speed when able to. I'm not saying everyone leaving that junction is guilty but there is a minority who at some point will cause an accident.

I'd love to see a roundabout built therefore stopping people like me from "speeding" along this section of road! -- and thereby giving everyone priority. It would reduce my frustrations and blood pressure! I have never in my life had any issues with a road junction before but this one leaves me ...

A soon to be Ex-Wemyss Bay Resident

Number 6 here again, re the comments about the ability to read the road, maybe we should all take the awareness test no matter how good we think we are at driving. I am sure those who do drive for a living could tell you about some incident that has happened every time they go out on the road.

Instead of getting hung up about speed limits, let’s consider that not every driver is as capable and experienced drivers are always watching for the other driver to do the unexpected. As for this comment page, let us not lose sight of the real issue here: 2012 is not 1990 and traffic has increased in the area and it can be seen from the interest this comment has raised that something needs to be done sooner rather than later so the effort should be about raising the profile of this hazard with the highways authority for some sort of priority traffic control whether it be a roundabout or traffic signals.

The new homes in the area are there for a long time we hope and one can assume that, as more and more cars per household come along, then the junctions in that area will only get busier.

One thought is maybe when they gave planning permission for the marina estate that the service road could have been routed to be opposite the main Inverkip exit road which would give more reason for a traffic control system.

An M4 constant user (eastern end) still with a Scottish accent

May I add my tuppenceworth, as a cyclist who frequently uses this stretch of road? In my 30 years of cycling experience, this bit of Tarmacadam has gotten increasingly hazardous to us cyclists. It would appear from comments and gestures from the ever growing number of 'family' cars that we are not welcome on this road. I mean, as we cycle past the bend at the public lavatories, it would appear that these oversized 4x4 type road users demand the whole road, with no due care or attention to us fellow road users. It would also appear that they do not take too kindly to us riding three abreast, which, given the size of these big off-road types is much narrower than them.

On one such occasion, someone even had the indecency to actually stop at the entrance to Kip Marina to wait on us to remonstrate by shaking his fist in the air and shouting ridiculous accusations. It's the first time I have been referred to as a, and I quote, 'Spandex-loving, saddle-muncher', whatever that means!

Anyway, back to the point. From a cyclists’ point of view, the traffic coming from the direction of Wemyss Bay does travel too fast, sometimes in excess of the national speed limit appropriate for this stretch of road. The only way I can see them slowing is if we have a 30mph limit through this area and some courteousness and decency towards those road users who seem to be bereft of any sympathy to those trying to join the main carriageway from Inverkip. Chill out!

Greenock Cyclist

13/ In reply to Greenock Cyclist who says "It would also appear that they do not take too kindly to us riding three abreast", in the Highway Code it says:

Rule 66: Never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends

So riding three abreast round a bend as you mention breaks the Highway Code.

Maybe all road users -- cyclists/motorcyclists/drivers -- should have to pass a basic Highway Code exam periodically in order to be able to use the roads?

An Occasional A78 User

14/ Number 6..... you've hit the nail right on the head!.. take speed limits away and it's all about ability. I firmly believe there are people who are not capable of judging how fast a car is moving on that stretch of road and these are the people that frustrate me so much. More so when, instead of getting up to speed, the brakes are applied to slow me even further! (how is that showing consideration to other drivers?)

From my point of view, on the main road, doing 50 to 60mph is not breaking the law and certainly not dangerous when conditions are right. Like I say I can state I do not go above the limit for this road as I do not feel safe going faster than I need to or am allowed to. I do not drive a large 4x4 (before people think it’s a big car bully thing!) but rather a normal car.

Thanks to everyone who replied (agree or disagree) to my post... I get the feeling this junction is going to continue to cause disagreements until the council or roads department sort it out.

As a wee parting comment, was it a clever idea to put the give way lines on the slip into Inverkip Main Road coming from the north or does that just seem like an idea too far?

A Soon to be ex-Wemyss Bay Resident

15/ As someone who isn't from Inverkip or Wemyss Bay but has a great deal of experience and knowledge of the road I feel I have to add my comments to this debate! Most comments so far seem to be all ‘me me me' --  ‘I want to drive at the speed limit'; 'Iwant to pull out when I want' (I know they aren’t exact quotes before anyone says so). How about a bit of both common sense and road/driving knowledge here?

A couple of points should be borne in mind.

-- Drive to the road conditions; this includes hazards and perceived hazards! If you know or think there is a chance someone may pull out from a junction, slow down!

-- Drive with due consideration for other road users. Do not pull out causing someone to brake sharply or swerve to avoid hitting you!

Honestly it really is that simple! Not exactly rocket science!

Paul, Greenock

16/ If some of the arrogant comments on here are conveyed to their driving, no wonder we have problems on that stretch of road. Build a roundabout. It should at least cut out the majority of accidents.

Concerned Inverkip Resident

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