The European Communities (Units of Measurement) (Amendment) Regulations that were made by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 2002 permit the use of imperial units on road signs for speed and measurement until 31 December 2004. A working group carried out a review of speed limits this year against the backdrop of the proposed metrication of speed limits by the end of 2004. The group presented its report to me last month. The report contains recommendations that a revised speed limit structure be introduced and recommendations in relation to metric signage. I am examining the report in detail and I propose to make final decisions on the recommendation shortly.
I have asked the group to continue its work for the purpose of advising on the implementation of the metrication programme. The introduction of the revised speed limit structure recommended by the group will require the introduction of new primary and secondary legislation and the precise implementation date must take account of the timescale for processing of the legislation.
All new cars sold in the European Union must have whole vehicle type approval, WVTA. WVTA requires cars to meet the requirements set out in a series of separate type approval directives including Directive 75/443/EEC as amended by Directive 97/39/EC relating to the reverse and speedometer equipment of motor vehicles. This directive provides, inter alia, that for type-approval purposes, a speedometer shall display speed in metric values. However, member states where imperial units of measurement are used are permitted under the directive to require that speedometers display speed both in metric and imperial values until such time as metric units of measure are mandatory. All new cars imported into Ireland at present therefore display both metric and imperial units of measurement but as indicated above when the changeover to metric units is implemented by end 2004 all new cars must display metric units only.
The report on the review of speed limits was published on my Department's website in early October and copies were issued to the Society of the Irish Motoring Industry, SIMI, and other interested bodies. My Department will be consulting further in relation to the implementation of the changeover to metric units.
