On Tuesday, June 2, a vehicle lost control on the A20 Portaferry Road in wet conditions, crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed through a sea wall. No one was injured, but the incident has prompted renewed calls for safety improvements on the coastal route.

Ophthalmic surgeon John Brookes, who lives in Portaferry, was travelling with his partner when the car skidded on a bend near the Finlays Road junction and narrowly avoided two head-on collisions. The vehicle ended up on the shore below the road.

Mr Brookes said that while no serious injuries occurred, the outcome could easily have been fatal. He urged authorities to consider measures such as extra warning signs, better road markings, improved drainage, increased surface grip, lower speed limits on dangerous bends and average-speed cameras. He also called for a comprehensive road safety review.

Strangford MP Jim Shannon backed the surgeon’s demands. He said he would contact the Department for Infrastructure’s Roads Service to request an immediate review and an onsite inspection of the entire route. Mr Shannon described the road’s tight bends and coastal conditions as a constant hazard for local residents, commuters and visitors.

A DfI spokeswoman said the department inspects the A20 regularly, maintains road markings and signage, and reviews PSNI injury collision data to identify where further safety measures are needed. The department will continue to monitor the route, she said, and reminded drivers to slow down and exercise caution in bad weather.