County to change 1,000 speed limits but national road proposals rejected
But the National Roads Authority has firmly rejected proposals by Cork Co Council to alter speed limits on national roads within the county.
The NRA has been widely criticised by county councillors for its decision which came despite the fact that comprehensive surveys were carried out by council engineers and gardaí over the past two years.
The changes were prompted by the controversial Road Traffic Act (2004), which converted miles per hour speed limits signs into kilometres per hour.
In many cases, inappropriate signs were erected and these are shortly to be replaced on secondary and minor roads.
However, the NRA will not allow the council proceed with erecting new signs on national roads and has, to the surprise of council officials, requested more information. Sources within the council claimed the NRA sought accident reports and road curvature reports, all of which its own officials should have access to anyway.
One council official described the NRA’s decision as “quite disappointing” which was mild compared to some of the comments it provoked from county councillors.
“I presume they (the NRA) know that speed kills. This is an insult to our engineers and the gardaí,” Cllr Veronica Neville (FG) said.
Her party colleagues Cllr Kevin Murphy and Aileen Pyne were also critical.
“Speed limits are something that came up time and time again on the doorsteps during the election campaign,” said Cllr Pyne.
Cllr Tom Sheahan said that many speed limit signs around the county were inappropriate and while the NRA may be dithering it was important that the council acted as quickly as possible.
