Criticism of unsuitable speed limits remains high, despite metrication. Daniel Attwood reports
Despite repeated calls for change and the apparent determination of the Minister for Transport to act, inappropriate speed limits continue to make driving on many national routes a testing affair for even the most law abiding motorist. With the metric changeover last week came a renewed focus on speed limits. But criticism of many inappropriate limits, whether too high or too low, remains widespread.
The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, commented that the speed limit system was being brought into disrepute by limits that defied common sense.
The Minister pointed to the N11 at Loughlinstown in south County Dublin. In one short stretch of the dual carriageway, the speed drops from 80km/h to 50km/h and then back to 80km/h. "You actually find gardaí there regularly taking otherwise law abiding citizens to the side and writing them tickets," said the Minister. "I have to say I feel it brings the whole process into disrepute and it causes a lot of ill-will among otherwise law abiding, tax paying citizens."
The Minister is not alone in his condemnation of the frustrating situation of inappropriate speed limits. Concerns were also raised recently by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) and the AA when they were asked to collate information on inappropriate speed limits and report back to the Department of Transport.
The group made over 66 recommendations, but these were largely dismissed by the local authorities. In fact, just one proposal was upheld by any of Dublin's local authorities.
One of the group's complaints related to the 100km/h limit on the M50 from the Tallaght to Dundrum interchanges. Despite it being a motorway, and therefore legally able to have a 120km/h limit, South Dublin County Council has said that the 100km/h (60mph) limit must remain because the road was never built to motorway standards.
"The speed limit on the M50from Knocklyon to Ballinteer is set at 60mph because of geometric constraints. The road was constructed with 60mph curves," said the Council. "No change [to the speed limit] is possible."
The National Roads Authority, which was responsible for building the M50, said that this section of the motorway was designed with a lowered maximum speed limit because the "physical constraints of the area".
An NRA spokesperson confirmed that this section will always remain as a dual carriageway restricted to 100km/h despite the fact that upgrade works will mean it will link to the triple-carriageway 120km/h M50 on one side, and the 120km/h M11 on the other.
Cyril McHugh, chief executive of SIMI, condemned the NRA and South Dublin County Council for the planning and building of the M50, Ireland's busiest motorway. Commenting on the fact that very few of the group's recommendations were acted upon by local authorities, McHugh said: "The whole credibility of the country's speed limits is being put in jeopardy by limits that are totally inappropriate. Speed limits throughout Ireland need to be both sensible and logical and, most importantly, consistent."
In an attempt to achieve this, the Department of Transport is giving motorists more say in the setting of new limits. The recently introduced Road Traffic Act 2004 contains a provision whereby local authorities must enter into a public consultation process before they can set new limits that differ from the country's default speed limits.
For example, it is expected that local authorities will soon be applying to set special limits of 30km/h (19mph) on certain roads, such as around schools. In addition, they will also be able to apply to increase limits on some dual carriageways up to 120km/h - the country's maximum permitted speed limit.
However, none of these special limits have so far been applied for, or any public consultation begun, because the guidelines needed by the local authorities to begin the process have not yet been published by the Department of Transport. A spokesperson for the Department has confirmed that the guidelines will be published "within a matter of days".
Once a new speed limit has been proposed, the public consultation will last for one month and will follow notification of the proposed changes in at least two newspapers.
"The public are the road users, therefore they should and must have an input," said the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen. "For the first time the public will have a say in the setting of special speed limits by local authorities. Each local authority must have a public consultation process on proposals to make special speed limit by-laws."
"Proposals to either decrease or increase limits must be considered in this way. This will make the application of special speed limits relevant. Crucially, it puts local representatives in a position to respond to local concerns and views promptly."
The gardaí and the National Roads Authority will also be asked for input on any proposed changes. However, as happened at the controversial Glen of the Downs section of the N11, local authorities can still override any suggestions and set a limit that many will still condemn as totally inappropriate.