‘Fundamental change’ coming with new 30kmph speed limit

Widespread concern over speeding in towns and villages

A reduction in speed limits in all town and village centres to 30kmph this year will go some way towards tackling speeding, local councillors heard this month.

Widespread concern over speeding was aired at the May meeting of Nenagh Municipal District. Cllr Phyll Bugler said a child was knocked down on a pedestrian crossing in Ballina the previous week. She called for the installation of raised pedestrian crossings in the town.

Cllrs Louise Morgan Walsh and Séamie Morris both spoke of almost being involved in accidents themselves recently. The latter believed drivers are not adhering to speed limits or the signage put up by authorities.

“We can talk about signs all we want but driver behaviour is a major problem,” Cllr Morris said. “People don't look up to look at speed signs.”

He mentioned a letter the council had received from residents of Yewston over speeding as well as illegal parking in their estate. It appeared that Nenagh's one-way traffic system has sent additional traffic through Yewston, Cllr Morris said.

Cllr JP O'Meara spoke of drivers not observing the new 60kmph speed limit on the Old Birr Road in Nenagh. Enforcement is an issue as employees of the nursing home who walk or cycle to work find the road hazardous, he said.

‘PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED’

Cllr John Carroll agreed that driver behaviour appears to be worsening at a local level. He was particularly concerned to find that around 75% of drivers do not indicate at roundabouts or junctions.

“People are going to be killed,” Cllr Carroll exclaimed. He also called for garda enforcement, warning that driver behaviour is deteriorating to “near anarchy”.

Cllr Morgan Walsh mentioned a problem with speeding on the Dublin Road, which still sees heavy traffic to the extent that local residents have difficulty getting in or out of their cars. Cllr O'Meara suggested a roundabout at the Martyrs Road junction in order to combat speeding on the Dublin Road. He also told the meeting that residents have requested CCTV cameras on the Dublin Road following a recent break-in to a car.

Elsewhere, Cllr Pamela Quirke O'Meara highlighted a problem with the traffic lights at Tyone, which she said are “causing mayhem” during busy times with tailbacks often as far as Knight's Crescent.

The meeting was informed of plans to install new footpaths at nearby Ballygraigue - along with several other parts of the district - this year. Councillors called for a comprehensive traffic calming scheme at Ballygraigue, where a longstanding problem with speed has been identified.

ATTITUDES NEED TO CHANGE

District Engineer Barry Murphy said public attitude is one of three factors where speeding is concerned. People in general think speeding is acceptable and that is the key problem, he said.

The other factors are enforcement, which is a matter for the gardaí, and engineering solutions, which would not be necessary if people did not speed.

Mr Murphy said a “fundamental change” is coming later this year when the speed limit would be reduced from 50kmph to 30kmph in every town and village. “That will be a massive change,” he said. “The public attitude will need to change to drive at that speed.”

Raised pedestrian crossings could be required in some situations in order to drive down vehicle speeds. The council is awaiting guidance regarding the new speed limit in September.

Regarding Tyone, Mr Murphy said initial occupation of the HSE primary care centre would commence soon and the three-way junction would become four-way. A traffic light sensor of higher technology would be installed and this would improve the situation, he said.

Cllr Quirke O'Meara asked about a mini-roundabout for the location, though Mr Murphy did not believe there is sufficient space for such a solution. He also informed her that the council would carry out a low-cost safety scheme this year on the Rathmartin Road, which has seen a build-up of traffic.

ONE-WAY TO STAY

Cllr Morris queried the planned review of the one-way traffic system introduced in Nenagh last year. He was told that a safety audit was carried out; Cllr Morris said he wanted the results of that audit for the district's next meeting.

Director of Services Liam Brett said the council is overall satisfied with how the new system is working. “As far as we're concerned, it's been a fabulous success,” Mr Brett commented. “It's here to stay”.

Concluding the discussion on speeding, Cllr Bugler encouraged the public to report problems to the gardaí so that speed checks could be carried out.