Speed Limit Signs

BrianD

The good minister is proposing more speed checks and that they will be operated by the private sector. Ironically, our judges see fit to not to convict a motorist travelling at 118MPH because he was going home to his sick mother.

Given the emphasis that will be placed on catching speeders will we actually see adequate signage erected to inform motorists of the limit on any stretch of road. Leaving aside some of the odd speed limits that have been set on some roads, I have noted the following.

There is seems to be a lack of standard signs. Some signs are smaller than others while even more are appearing printed on cardboard. These cardboard signs indicate a new speed limit applies but never seem to be replaced by permanent signs. Ideally we should have a standard sized sign (roundal) with the limit also painted on the road surface beside it.

Many roads do not have speed limits posted at entry points. Every stretch of road that you enter on to (e.g from a roundabout, a junction etc.) should have a speed limit posted within a specified distance. Similarly, as you pass through a set of traffic lights on a main road it should not be assumed that the same speed limit applies. A classic case is the N11 at Belfield. As you approach the city and pass through the last set of lights before the Belfield junction there is no speed limit posted. The speed limit is painted on the road surface but has worn bare. At the same time the Gardai constantly mount speed checks on this strtch of road. If I turned onto the N11 citybound at the traffic lights from a minor road how would I know that a 40mph limit applied?

With the metric upgrade imminent, now is the time to not only revaluate the limits that apply but also how we notify motorists of these limits.

parsi

Was driving to Dromod on Saturday and went onto the main road at Kinnegad (joined from road from Carbury).. nice straight stretch, wide, clear, 50mph ! This stretch ended at the county boundary and he speed limit went up to 60mph and the road narrowed and became less sraight - go figure.

BrianD

Is that the stretch just before the N4 becomes the M4 as you head east? I believe that this speed limit was in response to a large number of fatalities on the road (mainly pedestrians). You may recall that locals erected a white cross at the point each fatality occured. Very effective campaigns and you can see where people where people were struck down while, maybe, waiting for a lift or bus "at the top of the road".

parsi

It was going westbound from Meath to Longford (??)

BrianD

... I'll get my map out! :eek:

John R

BrianD wrote:

There is seems to be a lack of standard signs. Some signs are smaller than others while even more are appearing printed on cardboard. These cardboard signs indicate a new speed limit applies but never seem to be replaced by permanent signs. Ideally we should have a standard sized sign (roundal) with the limit also painted on the road surface beside it.

The smaller signs are repeaters, they are to signify a continuing limit, the big signs are at the beginning of a stretch of road or at the start of an altered speed area.
I am unsure about the law here, but in the UK you can successfully challenge a speeding offence if there wasn't a speed limit notice a certain distance before you were caught.