A “hot spot” zebra crossing where six people have been injured could be raised in a bid to improve safety.
Half a dozen pedestrians and cyclists, including a six-year-old boy, have been struck by vehicles as they attempted to cross outside Methil fire station on Methilhaven Road.
While most of the victims were only slightly hurt, a 35-year-old woman was seriously injured in December 2014 when a driver crashed into her after failing to notice her on the crossing.
All of the documented incidents happened between January 1 2013 and November 30 last year and include only those attended by police.
Fife Council’s transportation experts have recommended raising the zebra crossing to create a speed hump in the hope it will slow traffic.
In an email to Levenmouth councillors, lead consultant Colin Stirling said: “It would be tantamount to negligence as a road safety professional if I don’t bring this scheme forward in the knowledge of the poor road safety record at this site.”
Mr Stirling said the figures referred to had been taken directly from the Fife-wide crash database and added: “From a road safety perspective this forms a compelling case for further engineering intervention to address this road safety issue.”
Members of Levenmouth area committee will be asked to agree to the proposal when they meet on February 6.
It has the backing of Methil SNP councillor John O’Brien, who has previously called for zebra crossings across Fife to be scrapped and replaced with pelican crossings after witnessing a number of near misses.
He claimed people were regularly taking their lives in their hands as they attempted to cross the road.
“The crossing at the fire station seems to be a real hot spot and it’s been recommended that it should be raised up,” he said.
“It will cost around £40,000 but you can’t put a price on people’s lives.
“I have seen people, including mums with prams, almost being hit there and I would be failing in my duty as a councillor if I didn’t highlight that.”
