Police were called to a stretch of road just a few hundred yards north of the Lower Northwater Bridge on Monday morning following a collision between a Ford Transit and a white Volkswagen van. Officers said it was a minor crash with no injuries, but it was in part caused by a spillage of diesel or engine lubricant on the road.

The accident bore a striking resemblance to one in January which killed Ann Copeland and her daughters Ciara (7) and Naimh (10) as they made their way into Montrose. Approximately a mile before the Lower Northwater Bridge, Ann's Citroen Saxo hit spilled engine lubricant, causing her to lose control of her car and collide with a northbound Citroen Berlingo.

Stuart Martin has long complained about the speed of traffic - in particular heavy goods vehicles – going between the A90 and Montrose via St Cyrus, saying they pose a threat to pedestrians and motorists.
He said the A92's safety record between the village and Montrose was appalling and insisted something has to be done to prevent any more deaths.

He said: "That section of road is a killer. If you look back the last six or seven years there has been four or five fatal accidents.

"Every year between St Cyrus and the bridge you will see two or three cars going off the road and sitting in the field. It's a really bad piece of road.

"But these are accidents that have the potential to be fatal. Any incident involving a vehicle travelling faster than 30mph has the potential to be fatal and it's up to Aberdeenshire Council to do something about this road."

One way to make the road safer, Mr Martin claimed, was to put a weight restriction on the Lower Northwater Bridge to limit all but the most essential vehicles using the winding 60mph road between the village and Montrose.

He said that would eliminate the possibility of HGVs taking corners too fast - thus spilling diesel or engine fluid - and would prevent driver frustration at being stuck being a slow moving vehicle.

He said: "Back when they were surveying the bridge I hoped they would put a seven and a half tonne restriction on the bridge to stop HGVs. It's a very busy road, but I just don't think the A92 is fit for that purpose.

"For one it would remove the running road-block they cause – which is definitely adding to the risk.

"Maybe it's also the case that, when an HGV is coming down the hill with a full tank, it might slosh about – and maybe spill.

"Personally, I would like to see a cut in to Montrose from the A90, because I don't think the HGV traffic is going further than that.

"It would cost millions, but if it saves lives, so be it."