Finian McGrath
Question:145 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if road ramps were assessed; and if they reduced deaths, particularly in cities and towns. [16982/04]
View answerThursday, 3 June 2004
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Written answers
Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 empowers road authorities, in the interest of the safety and convenience of road users, to provide traffic calming measures. Ramps are considered desirable on public roads in their charge but the National Roads Authority must consent to them for national roads. The flexibility of the section gives road authorities the maximum discretion to decide what traffic calming measures best suit streets or areas.
In May 2003 traffic management guidelines were jointly issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Dublin Transportation Office and my Department. They provide comprehensive advice and references on good practice on a wide range of issues including traffic calming, the deployment of speed restraint measures, vertical deflections such as ramps, speed tables and speed cushions. A copy of the guidelines is available in the Oireachtas Library.
In the preparation of the guidelines reference was made to the experience in the United Kingdom and to research report data and surveys of car speeds that were conducted there on various types of ramps that may be deployed. Traffic calming measures, excluding ramps, were evaluated by two organisations. The University College Cork assessed inter-urban roads and the National Roads Authority assessed national routes.