Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits 2010

Victor

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=13028&lang=ENG&loc=397

These were published yesterday, although I think they were circulated to councils in January. It is mandatory for councils to consider them when revising speed limits.

I've not gone through them, but the intention had been to get councils to bring speed limits more closely in line with the type and usage of the actual roads - no more 80km/h on boreens.

L1011

The R449's special speed limit - which while unprovable to have been intended as a revenue generator, certainly is one - appears to be against these guidelines:

"• 60km/h: where there are high numbers of bends, junctions or accesses, substantial development, where there is a strong environmental or landscape reason, or where the road is used by considerable numbers of vulnerable road users."

Its mostly dual carriageway, its not bendy, all junctions are RABs except for the M4 Business Park at one extreme end of it (which could easily be 60, or 50 for that matter), and vulnerable road users who bother using it are on segregated cycleways or the footpath.

And, of course, when you go off the road on to some of the boreens that join it at the RABs, there are 80km/h signs.

Time to push for another revision of speed limits...

L1011

Also, the circular has a lot of recommendation on sign placement which I can only fully agree with - 80/100 repeaters ending up on bends, 80 signs on entering a boreen off an 80 road, etc.