Drivers can adapt to speed limits - Minister
Irish motorists are capable of easily adapting to the new metric speed limits, it was claimed today.
Transport Minister Martin Cullen said the country had acquired a reputation in Europe for dealing with major changes, such as the introduction of the euro.
“Over the past number of years we have also adapted well to the use of the metric system in a number of fields. We have been buying our petrol by the litre for a number of years and have made the change to kilometres for measuring distance,” he said.
The speed limit on 91% of Ireland’s 96,000km of roads will decrease from tomorrow in the switch from miles-per-hour to kilometres-per-hour.
These regional and local roads will have a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour (50mph), while the speed limit on motorways will increase to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph).
Mr Cullen said the provision of 23,000 new speed limit signs, in addition to the upgrading of 35,000 existing signs, would enhance road safety.
“I have been encouraged by the number of people who have said that the appearance of more signs on our roads has increased their awareness of speed limits generally.”
He said Fine Gael and Labour, which both criticised the failure to introduce special reduced speed limits outside schools, should stop issuing ‘fatuous statements’.
“This act enhances the power of councillors and provides a role for the public in setting speed limits for the first time. Fine Gael and Labour hold the balance of power in many councils around the country yet, as has been the case so often, they have failed to use that power and thus failed the people they claim to serve,” he said.
However, Labour Party transport spokesman Roisin Shorthall rejected Mr Cullen’s accusation.
“Local authorities can’t introduce special speed limits until the guidelines are issued by him. He hasn’t done that,” she said.
Ms Shorthall added that this had been confirmed to her by the Minister of State for Transport Ivor Callely.
She said the legislation for the changeover had been signed into law on December 22 last year and would come into effect tonight.
This had given gardai and local authorities the ‘impossible task’ of changing 58,000 road signs and recalibrating speed guns within a four-week period.
“Metrification has been rushed through with insufficient time given to allow the public, local authorities, and the Gardai to adjust. It is yet another example of the ad-hoc nature of the Government’s approach to road safety,” she said.
