Call to review speed limits after 19 road fatalities

FOLLOWING a year in which 19 people died in road accidents in Co Kerry, there was a call yesterday for a review of speed limits in the county.

Some of the existing speed limits were “not appropriate” to the roads they governed, claimed Fine Gael councillor John Sheahan.

He called for the lowering of limits on some dangerous road stretches, including some on the mountain route between Killarney and Kenmare.

Some of these stretches are along one of the country’s busiest tourist routes, the Ring of Kerry, which is travelled by thousands of tour coaches and other vehicles each year.

“There’s not much sense in having a 100km/h limit on the road around Moll’s Gap and Ladies’ View, which is narrow, twisting and steep. A 50km/h limit would be more appropriate there,” said Mr Sheahan.

“There’s an urgent need to review the limits so as to reduce the risk of more accidents and fatalities on our roads.”

Mr Sheahan said the 19 Kerry road fatalities last year — five more than the previous year — resulted in growing concerns about safety.

Kerry County Council recently published a four-year road safety strategy drawn — up in co-operation with the gardaí and the National Roads Authority (NRA).

A council spokesman said the high number of fatalities was a cause of serious concerns, especially as the road network had improved in the last 10 years and there had been sizeable investment in traffic calming and other safety measures.

The council appointed a road safety officer in 2007, to raise awareness and organise road safety campaigns.

There is also a high level of participation by schools around the county in safety programmes and eight adult school wardens are employed.

This month, meanwhile, the council plans to review its speed limit bylaws and to forward any proposed changes to the NRA.