Greens want reduced motorway speed limits to cut carbon emissions

The Greens reportedly looked at cutting the 120 km an hour speed limit for cars and trucks to 110 km/hr. File Photo: Denis Minihane

The speed limit on motorways could be reduced as part of the Green Party's proposals to reduce carbon emissions.

It is reported that during negotiations on the Programme For Government, the Greens looked at cutting the 120 km an hour speed limit for cars and trucks to 110 km/hr.

The move would lengthen travel times but the party believe it would improve fuel consumption for those who drive close to top speed, the Business Post reports.

It is not included in the Programme for Government, but the programme did commit to a review of speed limits.

Cork City Green Party Councillor Dan Boyle said it is just one of a number of suggestions.

Cllr Boyle said: "We need to get people thinking about the level of speed we use on our roads. There are road safety concerns, of course, but the faster we go the more we use our fuel.

"Fuel itself creates carbon emissions, as a country we have continuing problems with carbon emissions.

"So as a part of a package of measures in reducing carbon emissions across the country, how fast we go, how often we travel and how are issues we need to address."