Vol. 447 No. 1
196 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give local authorities the power to introduce speed limits of less than 30 m.p.h. in areas which they designate as in need of special traffic calming in view of the fact that this would be a very cost-effective way of enhancing the impact of other traffic calming measures which may otherwise take many years to implement because of the very significant costs involved. [3263/94]
I do not propose, at this stage, to provide for the use of speed limits of less than 30 mph, the standard built-up area limit. International experience has confirmed that such limits, applied in isolation, do not have any significant impact on vehicle speeds. Where road authorities wish to restrict vehicles to a speed lower than 30 mph, they should utilise appropriate traffic calming measures under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act, 1994. The use of lower speed limits will be further considered in the light of experience with the use of such measures.
