andMr. Norton asked the Minister for Local Government if he will introduce a nation-wide speed limit of 65 mph.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Speed Limits.
36.
As I have already announced, I propose to make regulations introducing a general speed limit of 60 m.p.h. with effect from 1st April next. In deciding on the limit of 60 m.p.h. I had regard to the recommendations of An Foras Forbartha who conducted an exhaustive study on the subject at my request. As I have already indicated, the operation of the speed limit will be kept under review.
I should not like the Minister to think I am against speed limits in principle, but I understand the speed limit in England and on the Continent is 70 miles per hour. What I am concerned about is that people who have a long journey to go and who want to drive at more than 60 miles per hour may feel they might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb and, in fact, would be tempted to travel at 75 miles per hour. If the Minister was prepared to accept 65 miles per hour it would be much more likely to be observed by the public at large. Would the Minister reconsider fixing it at 65 miles per hour and, if he finds it unsatisfactory, reducing it to 60 miles per hour?
An Foras Forbartha recommended that whatever speed limit would be introduced it should be at one of the 10 miles per hour steps. The report clearly indicated that the correct limit to impose was 60 miles per hour. The 65 miles per hour would affect only 6 or 7 per cent of drivers on the best sections of the road. The 85th per cent high speed is 59.1 miles per hour and it is international practice in imposing an overall speed limit to adopt the speed that corresponds most closely to the 85th per cent, and that is 60 miles per hour, which would affect, it is believed, about 13 per cent of drivers on the best sections of the road.
Would the Minister be prepared to receive representations from the motoring organisations? I have had representations about it from quite a number of constituents and, indeed, from people who are not in my constituency. Would the Minister be prepared to receive representations from the motoring organisations and reconsider the matter in the near future, having heard what they have to say?
I have received requests from a number of organisations to meet them, and I am arranging to do that. I have said it is intended to keep the matter under review, and it is because we want to assess the effects of this on its own that it is being introduced now, so that it will not be confused with the effects of the proposed new regulation in regard to the consumption of alcohol.
Which the Minister will never introduce.
Which will be introduced by the end of September.
Has consideration been given to the possibility of putting a governor on motor cars to control their speed?
Does the Deputy mean to require that a governor be fitted?
Yes.
No. I would not think that would be a good idea.
I am talking about a governor for motor cars not for Taca or anything like that.
Could the Minister indicate when it is proposed to enforce this speed limit and if it is intended to introduce any new measures in this connection?
It will be enforced the same as existing speed limits.
Then leave it alone. The Minister is wasting his time.
The speed limit imposed on the Naas Road has been observed reasonably well and has had a significant effect.
Will State cars be bound by this?
That is a separate question.
It arises out of the question of the speed limit.
We cannot have a debate on this.
Could the Minister indicate——
Police cars on duty are exempt.
I asked about State cars, Ministers' cars.
I said police cars on duty are exempt.
You do not have to worry about that, anyway, Fintan.
(Cavan): Arising out of the Minister's reference to the Nass Road, would the Minister not agree that, whatever about the merits of a speed limit, the Naas Road is not a fair yardstick? Would he not agree that the reduction there was from 80,90 and perhaps 100 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour and not from 70 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour? Would the Minister not further agree that the Naas Road was, in fact, being used as a motorway whereas it was never constructed for such a purpose? Therefore, if he has come to his decision on the result of the speed limit on the Naas Road, he has acted on false premises, so to speak.
There is a certain amount in what the Deputy says about the Naas Road, but, as Deputy Fitzpatrick knows, this decision has not been come to on that basis but on the basis of the report of An Foras Forbartha, of which every Deputy has a copy, which covered roads all over this country and which clearly established a very significant relationship between speed and fatalities and serious injuries in accidents and which clearly indicated that it was almost incumbent on the Minister to introduce this over-all speed limit.
(Cavan): So long as it is clear that the Minister was not unduly influenced on the Naas Road——
I am calling the next question. We cannot have a debate on this.
37.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will give serious consideration to proposals to introduce a speed limit for the village of Currow, near Farranfore, County Kerry, in view of the fact that there is a church, schools and one of the largest central creameries in the country in the village; whether he has received such proposals; and, if so, the present position in regard to them.
A request for a speed limit in this village was received recently in my Department and this request, together with the Deputy's present representations, will be fully considered during the next review of speed limits in County Kerry.