N6 - Why so slow

challengemaster · 11-01-2009 10:50pm #1

Why is the speed limit on the N6 80km/h ? I mean, the bypass/motorway is in place now. There's a lot less traffic on the roads and the roads are quite decent. Where's the sense in reducing the speed of the N6 to 80km/h when it's easily capable of 100+ ?

Quite annoying as a L driver I can't use the motorway so takes a lot longer to get into Athlone from Moate

11-01-2009 10:58pm

The N6 has been downgraded to the R(something or other) and for some strange reason, Ireland sets speed limits by road classification (M, N or R & L) rather than by road type (Motorway, Dual carriageway, single carriagway & Rural, Suburban or Urban) like most of the rest of the world.

The quality of the road has little to do with it, It's an R road now, therefore (without a special order - like the N1 for example has 120kmh ) it's 80kmh!

whyulittle · 12-01-2009 1:59am

Depends if you want to obey the speed limit because that's just the way you are, or you just don't want to get caught. I have family living out that direction, and they've never seen any speed checks on it since it has been downgraded.

12-01-2009 2:28am

With about 90% of traffic gone, most accidents are caused by bad driving coupled with congestion.
There's no real incentive to police that road anymore.

Having said that, tractor drivers may be less cautious than before and more likely to pull out in front of you!

whyulittle · 12-01-2009 3:12am

Yeah but you'd imagine they'd like shooting fish in a barrel on it.

Plus it was on the list they released a while back of the 700 or so roads they were to target when they got the new vans/cameras.

Saint_Mel · 12-01-2009 8:45am

Deleted User wrote: »

The N6 has been downgraded to the R(something or other) and for some strange reason, Ireland sets speed limits by road classification (M, N or R & L) rather than by road type (Motorway, Dual carriageway, single carriagway & Rural, Suburban or Urban) like most of the rest of the world.

I'd have assumed that the Road Classification was kinda the same thing as Road Type? M - Motorway, N - National, R - Regional, L - Local

12-01-2009 7:38pm

Saint_Mel wrote: »

I'd have assumed that the Road Classification was kinda the same thing as Road Type? M - Motorway, N - National, R - Regional, L - Local

Not really, a "N" road could be a High quality dual carriageway (Motorway in all but name), it could be a wide straight road with hard shoulders OR it also could be a windy narrow back road (like the Birr Road) they all have the same speed limit, madness!

challengemaster · 12-01-2009 7:40pm

Any way to get it changed? TBH, it's utterly stupid.

12-01-2009 8:04pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Any way to get it changed? TBH, it's utterly stupid.

Politics.....

Need I say more..

challengemaster · 13-01-2009 7:56pm

Yes, please. Do go on

KevR · 20-01-2009 2:16pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Why is the speed limit on the N6 80km/h ? I mean, the bypass/motorway is in place now. There's a lot less traffic on the roads and the roads are quite decent. Where's the sense in reducing the speed of the N6 to 80km/h when it's easily capable of 100+ ?

Quite annoying as a L driver I can't use the motorway so takes a lot longer to get into Athlone from Moate

Do you mind if I ask whether you drive accompanied or unaccompanied as an L driver? If you drive unaccompanied you may as well break another law and use the motorway.

How long does Moate-Athlone take on the N6? You won't know yourself when you pass your test and can legally use the m'way.

N6 - Why so slow

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