'Absurd' speed limit plan attacked
Thursday January 28 2010
Transport chiefs have hit out at Dublin City Council's plan to expand 30kph speed limits.
From Monday February 1st, the ultra-low limit area will stretch from Bolton Street on the north-side to the Four Courts and on the south-side from Christchurch to Merrion Square and back towards the Custom House.
Conor Faughnan, AA director of policy, branded the move an absurd mistake which will infuriate motorists and shatter the council's reputation.
"There is just no sense in this," he said.
"30 kph zones work when they are engineered properly, in traffic calmed areas where they are self policing. That's what they are for.
"But applying them en masse on roads that are engineered for high volumes at flowing speeds is absurd.
"We have problems enough countrywide trying to end the scourge of badly set speed limits without the capital city making a mockery of sensible road design."
The 30kph limit will apply 24 hours a day, regardless of traffic volumes or the size and capacity of roads in the area.
A council review of accident statistics for the Dublin city area between 1998 and 2007 showed 47% of fatalities and 24% of people injured were pedestrians.
It also pointed to research that 45% of pedestrians die when struck by a car at 50kph but only five per cent if hit at 30kph.
Press Association
