Speed limits being examined in Bray
PLANS to change some of Bray’s speed limits to 30km per hour are moving forward.
Members received a report from the district engineer Liam Burke including a map of suggested locations and speeds. Superintendent Pat Ward had also contributed to the project.
An Garda Síochána support a measure whereby all streets within a agreed radius of the Main Street have their speed limit reduced to 30kph rather than just a selected number of streets. A contiguous zone with the one speed limit would ease enforcement and prosecution.
This arose from a proposal by Cllr Steven Matthews, who had produced research confirming that there was less risk to life at the proposed speed.
Cllr Matthews thanked the engineer and Supt Ward. He said that while this was a bit less than he had suggested, he was very pleased with the proposals.
Cllr Matthews proposed the document proceed, with Cllr Dermot O’Brien seconding.
Under the last speed limit review a 40 kph speed limit was adopted for the Main Street, 30kph for surrounding residential roads and the speed limit on other adjacent regional, primary and secondary roads remained at 50kph. The nature of the Main Street and other streets within a short distance of it, with the high pedestrian volumes, results in maximum speeds closer to 30kph for most of the day.
‘I therefore support the proposal for a contiguous speed limit zone of 30kph centred on the Main Street. However, the distance this extends on adjoining streets should reflect, as far as possible, the nature of the road and the principal purpose it serves,’ wrote the engineer Mr Burke in his report. ‘After national roads, regional roads and local primary roads serve as important link roads and motorists are not likely to adhere to low speed limits on these roads over long distances unless there are perceived hazards such as a lot of pedestrian movement crossing the road or there are major visibility issues.’
Any review of the speed limit bye laws will be handled by the Transport and Roads Department.