Rhiconich crofter calls for 'keep left' signs on NC500 tourism route
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A NORTH-west Sutherland crofter is calling for keep left signs to be erected at regular intervals along the NC500 tourism route.
David Forbes of Rhiconich also wants a by-law to be introduced to make it mandatory for car hire firms to put keep left stickers in their vehicles.
Mr Forbes was moved to embark on a keep left campaign after his son Michael had a heart-stopping near miss with a campervan travelling on the wrong side of the road.
“How he missed them to this day he does not know. He himself had to take to the wrong side of the road to avoid an accident,” said Mr Forbes.
He added that it was felt the NC500 was particularly hazardous because of the number of foreign motorists, who are used to driving on the right, touring the route and the variations from single to double track.
Following the incident and after hearing of other similar narrow escapes, Mr Forbes decided the risk of an accident was so great that he had to take matters into his own hands. He approached three community councils – Scourie, Kinlochbervie and Durness – and was given support and funding towards the erection of signs.
North, west and central Sutherland councillor Hugh Morrison also gave his backing, although Mr Forbes did not approach Highland Council’s roads department.
He researched the best practice for sign design and placement before having the signs, which were always intended to be temporary, made up.
“I just went ahead and got the signs made up,” he said.
Some 20 plastic Correx signs were erected in 2019 on existing structures across the three community council areas. However, the ravages of the area’s winters mean that only two now remain.
“We have effectively in north-west Sutherland run a pilot scheme and it has shown people what can be done,” said Mr Forbes “We cannot afford to put up signs every year and have them blown down. We have done the best we can with what funding we had.
He added: “This is the only thing I have ever done to which there has been no negative response.”
He has approached a large number of organisations in the hope that one of them could take up the gauntlet. These include NC500 managers, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, the Automobile Association, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
Some acknowledged his emails but did not take the matter further while others did not respond.
“The powers-that-be need to act before somebody gets killed,” said Mr Forbes.
However Highland Council has warned that no one should put road signs up without first securing its permission.
A Highland Council spokesman said: "The design and approval of signs for traffic is closely regulated and is required to be in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
“If non-standard signs are proposed the roads authority needs formal approval from Transport Scotland. Traffic signs have to be designed and installed in accordance with guidance and legislation.
“If community councils wish to erect signs they will need permission from the roads authority to erect them. Highland Council would be prepared to discuss the matter with communities to consider what measures may be appropriate and what might comply with legislation.”
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