Residents of Mell, Drogheda are demanding urgent road safety measures on a hazardous stretch of the R168, amid growing concern and a series of recent traffic incidents.

Locals have described the road as a "race track," particularly the section between St. Joseph’s National School and the entrance to Riverview Estate, where there are no traffic calming measures.

The issue has been highlighted by Councillor James Byrne and Senator Alison Comyn, who met with residents.

The residents shared harrowing experiences of multiple accidents and vehicle damage.

One parent expressed fear of letting their children walk on footpaths, worried about a car crashing into them.

A key roadblock in addressing the issue is access to official data. Louth County Council has stated it cannot implement low-cost safety measures because it lacks access to collision data, which is held by the Department of Transport.

This has been described by local representatives as an "absurd" situation that leaves residents at risk.

A call has been made to the Department of Transport to release the necessary data immediately, with locals arguing that a fatality should not be required for action to be taken.