Sir,– Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan says increasing public transport is an easy win in helping reduce emissions this year.
A much easier win for the environment and for people’s pockets would be to reduce the speed limit on motorways to 100km/h.
Fuel consumption at 100km/h is approximately 25 per cent less than at 120km/h.
Reducing the speed limit to 80km/h for larger vehicles like the larger van, rigid trucks and articulated lorries would yield even better results because they have very poor aerodynamics and would substantially reduce their fuel costs.
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As it is hard to maintain a high average speed after leaving the motorway, any advantage to speeding down the motorway is soon lost on these slower roads, as lorries and vans spend a lot of time being stationary, either in traffic or in loading bays.
A very easy win for the Minister and completely cost free. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
