Vol. 442 No. 8
36 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to introduce regulations permitting the use of speed cushions in urban areas as a further aid to traffic calming; if so, when such regulations are likely to be tabled and to come into effect; the normal lay-out and dimensions of speed cushions and the comparable advantage of these compared to ramps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Existing legislation governing traffic calming, as set out in section 101A of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, provides only for the use of bollards and ramps on public roads.
The Road Traffic Act, 1994, which was enacted on 20 April last, provides for the repeal of section 101A and its replacement by a power for road authorities to provide traffic calming measures generally. These new provisions do not involve the making of regulations to prescribe specifications for individual traffic calming techniques. Subject only to general guidelines which may issue, local authorities will have flexibility to select the specific traffic calming measures — including their design and lay-out — best suited to individual roads in their areas. I will commence the relevant provisions of the 1994 Act as soon as practicable.
