Safe Speed Forums

No Mercy For Metric Speeders

From: The Irish Independent

Friday, 7th January, 2005

Gardai Warn New Limits Will Be Strictly Enforced From Day One

Gardai will show no mercy to motorists who break the new metric speed limits.

Deputy Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy warned yesterday there would be "no amnesty" or honeymoon period for drivers.

They can expect the full rigours of speeding enforcement from January 20 when the changeover takes effect.

On that date, speed limits will be in kilometres rather than miles per hour. The limits will also change, coming down on most of the country's roads and up on a few.

And motorists will have to get to grips with new rules right from the start. "There will be no amnesty, there will be full enforcement from January 20," said Deputy Commissioner Murphy at the launch of the changeover campaign.

Speed cameras will be out in force "with immediate effect," he warned.

Drivers have just two weeks to learn the new metric speed limits. Almost five million information leaflets on the changeover are being distributed, 1.6m to homes. Each contains a conversion table for drivers to consult before going on journeys.

Environment Minister Martin Cullen said an intensive campaign over a fortnight was selected as the best method, predicting that "even a recluse" should have the information by then.

But Fine Gael claimed two weeks was not long enough for the public to get used to the new limits and signs and predicted confusion.

The National Safety Council hopes the changeover will lead to the same dramatic reduction in road deaths experienced when penalty points were first introduced.

Chairman Eddie Shaw also predicted that the option of special limits of 30kph will save lives near schools.

He rejected any suggestion that the lead-in time was too short to educate all motorists.

But Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell claimed the two-week publicity campaign was insufficient to get motorists used to the new system.

She accused the Government of missing the chance to revise some of the "crazy" speed limits around the country.

"There was a golden opportunity to use the metrication process to get rid of the crazy situation where cars can race past national schools at full speed, while having to crawl along at low speeds on perfectly safe dual carriageways," she said.

There were 379 people killed on Irish roads last year, the highest total for three years. Excessive speed was regarded as the main contributory factor in the majority of crashes.

Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent

From:

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/n ... =Eircomnet



So, lowered limits nationwide and speed cameras out in force.

Wonder what will happen to the fatality figures?

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http://www.itsyourduty.org.uk

Interesting....when the 70 speed limit becomes 120.....

What I wonder is......WHY

It must cost a fortune....and for what reason? You don't need metrication to reduce speed limits.

I must say Ireland has some of the WORST driving I have ever seen. That includes Italy and France...!

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Speed camera policy Kills

Why?

We're going metric and it was decided that rounded numbers made more sense.

50kmh = 31mph

60kmh = 37mph

80kmh = 50mph

100kmh = 62mph

120kmh = 75mph

The big issue - you're going to love this one - is that all roads other than National roads (A roads) will default to 80kmh on Jan 20th. Local Authorities can then enter into a "consultation process" to decide what the appropriate limit should be for these roads.

I live on a very good R road (B road). On Jan 19 the limit will be 60mph. On Jan 20th it will be 80kmh. Following the consultation period it will probably be raised to 100kmh (62mph).

Think about the logic of that.

Either the road is safe at 60mph/100kmh, or it isn't. I WILL get penalty points if I drive at 60mph during the "consultation period" just the same.

Clusterf**k!

There are lots of good aspects of this process - such as a given road can now have a low limit approaching a hazard, and a higher limit going in the opposite direction, away from the hazard.

We will also now have repeater signs at every junction, and the abolition of the general speed limit (white circle with diagonal black line).

My favourite is that the new 30kmh limit can be time defined (outside schools, etc). The red flag campaigners can now have their lower limit, but it will only apply when it is actually needed.

We also have a trial going on in one town where the speed limit is 30kmh passing a schoolbus.

... and as for Gizmo's racist comment about the standard of Irish driving - just because our KSI rate is double the UK's is no reason to make such disgraceful statements! (tongue in cheek!)

I saw three cars driving in the dark with no lights yesterday.

And Peter E wonders why I think DRLs are a great idea!

Hi Stan - I'm glad I've encouraged you to join this forum

I've read quite a lot about the metrication of speed limits in Ireland and get the impression that a lot of thought has been devoted to it.

I have driven in Ireland but am not really sure how much of the road network qualifies as "national roads" on which the 100 km/h limit will apply.

I'm not at all keen on the idea of the 80 km/h limit for rural non-national roads, but suspect this will not be enforced very much by the Gardai. I'm sure anyone living in Ireland can come up with examples of roads where this limit is inappropriately low.


DRLs are a controversial subject which we have discussed at some length in another thread.

I'm really far from convinced that the fact that some drivers make an inappropriate lighting decision in some circumstances justifies a law mandating DRLs.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Sorry, my comment was tongue in cheek as well....

My wife's family are from Ireland. We have been over several times.

I love the roads, the way drivers alow you to pass on A roads by half moving over onto the sholder is great. I wish they did that over here. At last you have a motorway!

I think the traffic light system is good as well. Going from red to green.

But it can get very "rural". and some of the stuff you see on the roads is a bit scary...

I want to take the bike over one day....

Driving in Dublin seems to be a bit of a turkey shoot at rush hour...

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Speed camera policy Kills

Don't be. You are correct!




Totally illegal, but very practical and widely practised.

There was a picture in the paper recently of an RTA where a Hyundai went under an oncoming HGV.

The HGV had moved onto the hard shoulder (his left) to avoid the oncoming car, but the car followed it onto the hard shoulder.

This isn't the first head-on collision I've seen on a road with a hard shoulder. (as in, why didn't the buggers manage to avoid each other!)



I've seen those things. What are they for?



Unless it's raining, when it becomes a car park.

But seriously, the new legislation is based on this report if anyone wishes to have a look at the rationale.

While digging out that URL I saw the title of this report entitled Executive Summary Speed Camera Study. I haven't read it, but I'm sure it'll be of interest 'round here.

Are you sure they weren't old boys going home from the pub in their tractors?

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http://www.itsyourduty.org.uk