Latest news with #2023SpeedLimitReview
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Elaine Loughlin: Independent Ireland not too keen on speed limit changes
Silage season is in full swing, and for members of Independent Ireland it is causing real frustration and a level of road rage that warrants attention. Just days after the tragic death of Garda Kevin Flatley, the party has come out calling for increases to speed limits. Garda Flatley died after being struck by a motorbike during a speed check, the high-powered Yamaha R1 1000cc motorcycle continued on for around 500m and crossed the road median before finally crashing into a bus stop. But Michael Collins, Richard O'Donoghue, and Ken O'Flynn believe that the current speed limits on many roads are too low and used much of their time with the media on Tuesday to vent frustrations about being stuck behind agricultural vehicles. Stretches of roads, which have recorded no fatalities or accidents, have gone from 80km to 60km, the group protested. It prompted one journalist to ask whether those responsible for setting the limits should wait for a tragic accident before taking action. While all motorists will relate to the agonising experience of snailing behind a Massey Ferguson as it trundles along winding rural roads, the statistics speak for themselves. Speed is a factor in one third of fatal collisions in Ireland. When a car hits a pedestrian or cyclists at 50 km/h, they have a 50% chance of living. Hit them at 60 km/h, and that chance drops to just 10%. But Independent Ireland has taken issue with new default speed limits that came into force in February following a recommendation of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and believe that setting limits should be up to local authorities and the gardaí. "I drive trucks, I drive tractors, I'm from a rural community," Mr O'Donoghue began, adding that on local roads where "you're not allowed cut the hedges, so now you have to drive in the middle of the road in certain areas," a reduced speed is merited. "You then go on to a regional road, and I'm doing 60 km/h, 53 or 54 km/h in a tractor, and I'm looking behind me, and there's a queue of traffic, no place for me to pull in, and there's a queue of probably half a kilometre behind me." Mr O'Donoghue argued that this is prompting some drivers to go "nuts" and overtake the entire tailback. Outlining the solution, party colleague Mr Collins said: "If there's black spots, gardaí know where they are, the local authority knows where they are and they need to work there, not put a blanket ban [in place]. So yes, reductions need to happen when there's accidents happening, but certainly not a blanket ban across the country. He added: "You have a situation in parts of my own constituency, and I can guarantee a lot of other constituencies here, where a tractor, a silage tractor, can hold for 20 for 25 kilometers, doing 20km/h. That's an insane situation, and that needs to be addressed by government." There is an argument to be made in giving power to local councillors or gardaí, who have a knowledge of particularly dangerous stretches of road. But imagine the uproar there would be, including from politicians, when a decision is taken not to reduce a specific road and then an accident does happen? Read More Alan Kelly accuses Garda Commissioner of 'failing' in road policing staff numbers
The Independent
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Speed limits reduced across Irish roads as part of plan to reduce deaths
Speed limits are being reduced on hundreds of rural roads in the Republic of Ireland as part of a Government plan to tackle the number of road deaths. Thousands of new road speed signs show that limits will decrease from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) and will apply from Friday. The move is targeted at rural and local roads which serve local travel and connect rural communities, the Department of Transport said. These roads are designated with an 'L' followed by a number, or do not have a number. Reducing speed limits is part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy and is part of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users. Friday's change is the first phase of a nationwide speed limit overhaul which will see further reductions introduced. Later in the year, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will be reduced from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18.6mph). The speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph). Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads. The 'rural speed limit sign', which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force. The Department of Transport said it has been working closely with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana), along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60km/h limit is enforced. Research by the Road Safety Authority has shown that seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or higher. It also show that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: 'Today's speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives. 'Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all. 'Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. 'This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.' Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said: 'Today's speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction. 'This welcome change will give us all safer roads. 'Systemic changes like today's speed limit reduction and road safety education – along with enforcement – have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed. 'Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.'
