Three accidents in a week on roundabout: ‘The grass is much too high’

For the third time in a week, an accident has happened on the roundabout between Steeg and Structural Road in Schijndel. A total of two cyclists and a woman on a mobility scooter were injured. The three victims were each hit by a car. People from the village find the situation confusing due to the high roadside grass. “Something has to be done quickly before people die,” says Wilma Steenbakkers, who often uses the roundabout.

On Wednesday, things went wrong for the first time on the roundabout. An elderly man on a bicycle was hit by a motorist. A day later, a woman on a mobility scooter met the same fate. And on Monday evening a cyclist ended up under a car when he wanted to cross the road. Three victims in a week.

“Cars come here from left and right and drive pretty fast.”

According to many cyclists and pedestrians who pass the roundabout on Tuesday, the situation is unclear. The grass is very high on the verges near the roundabout. “I think it’s quite dangerous with that tall grass,” says Paula van Schijndel. “Cars come here from left and right and drive quite fast. Then things can often go wrong.”

Cars have priority on the roundabout. But they are not always easy to see for crossing cyclists, explains Frans as he tries to get past the roundabout safely on his bicycle. “I think the highway that comes from the village is quite a link. You actually have to get off to see everything properly.”

“They should just mow the grass here twice a month.”

But that often doesn’t happen, knows Ietje van Dissel. “Many cyclists just keep going without looking. People are in such a hurry these days. Maybe everyone should pay a little more attention.”

However, following Janette, something has to change quickly. “They should just mow the grass here twice a month,” she says resolutely from her bike. That is a small effort, Wilma Steenbakkers agrees. “There should not be fatalities first.”

One of the crossing points for cyclists on the roundabout on the Structural Road (Photo: Rochelle Moes).
One of the crossing points for cyclists on the roundabout on the Structural Road (Photo: Rochelle Moes).

ttn-32