By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy and Gorey meetings
The National Speed Limit Review legislation became law on April 12th last and the provisional commencement for rural local roads is November and elected members were briefed on the changes at two meetings today (Tuesday); Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District by Wexford County Council Chief Technician, David Codd.
2,993 km of non-national country roads will be assessed, that is 83.14% of Co. Wexford’s total road network consisting of 865km of Local Primary; 1,428km of Local Secondary and 646km of Local Tertiary. Approximately 700 poles and signs will be erected across the county. No reference to surface conditions or the cost!
It is proposed to reduce the existing default 80km/h on all rural non-national country roads to 60km/h, while all regional roads will continue to have an 80km/h default speed limit. Stage one will be an assessment, such as road paved width and stage two will look at geometrics such as horizontal and vertical alignment, traffic collision data, speed data, traffic volumes, seasonal peaks and attractions, the number of junctions and access etc.
There is lots more to follow, but the elected representatives were mostly puzzled by the new 60km/h sign which is “a circle with four diagonal lines at 60 degrees”? (See example attached).
Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin wondered aloud as to why the existing 60km/h sign would be replaced by the new ‘four diagonal lines’ sign? Cllr Anthony Donohoe was of the view that it makes no difference because the speed limits are unenforceable on rural roads.
So why go for the four diagonal lines as the replacement for the clear 60km/h sign? Wait for it! Because the 60km/h sign is regarded by many drivers as a ‘target’ rather than a guideline and the new sign takes that notion out of the drivers’ mind! It is accepted that education on the new signs will require the holding of a National Awareness Campaign.
Local authorities will be able to change the new default limits and the Department of Transport is to develop a specific training course for elected members in relation to speed limits.
WexfordLocal.com 