The National Roads Authority has said it is possible that an accident at Slane Bridge in Co Meath yesterday could have been more serious than it was but for new traffic calming and safety measures it installed last year.
A lorry driver was injured, but not seriously, when he was thrown from his vehicle after it went out of control and through the parapet wall on the bridge which is part of the main N2 Dublin to Derry road.
It happened around 8.15 a.m. yesterday as the rigid body truck, carrying sand, was travelling southwards down the hill towards the bridge. It was at the accident blackspot that has previously been the scene of fatal crashes.
A spokesman for the National Roads Authority said it was aware of the accident, which is the first since the measures were introduced.
He said these involve corraling all heavy goods vehicles and they no longer cross the bridge as part of the general flow of traffic.
In the last most serious accident at the bridge a truck lost control and rolled over two cars that were in front of it, killing a child.