TRAFFIC IN Cork could be slowed to a crawl as city council officials consider reducing speed limits in the city centre.
Council officials are also considering doing away with traffic lights altogether, in the hopes that city centre traffic can proceed on a “courtesy-based” basis.
Speed limits in specified areas could drop from 50km/h to 30km/h and as low as 15km/h, or nine miles per hour, on central city streets in a bid to deter motorists and encourage a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
The radical slow down will create a greater ease of movement for pedestrians and cyclists while encouraging drivers to swap their cars for a more eco-friendly form of transport.
“The overall objective is to ensure that every safety measure is taken for pedestrians and cyclists to move freely around the city and not just give priority to cars,” city manager Joe Gavin said.
Motorists are already moving at low speeds due to congestion in certain cities, according to Mr Gavin, though that is not the case in Cork.
“We don’t have a big problem with traffic here, so motorists can travel around the city centre streets at speeds that may not be wise.
‘‘We would be looking to reduce speed limits in a safety-based effort primarily, with a view to encouraging other modes of transport such as bicycling or walking,” Mr Gavin said.
The dramatic speed drops are at a preliminary discussion stage, according to Mr Gavin.