Reducing speed limit in Carney ‘would not be consistent with the guidelines’

Reducing the speed limit along a stretch of road in Carney would not be consistent with the guidelines for setting and managing speed limits in Ireland, councillor Marie Casserly was informed. The North Sligo councillor proposed to have the speed limit reduced at Cooldrumman, Carney saying speeding was a problem in the area. The meeting was told the current speed limit in the area was 80kph.

Acting Director of Services, Tom Brennan in reply said that when making bye-laws in relation to speed limits, local authorities must take cognisance of the Department of Transport’s guidelines and also in this case to have regard to the function of the road at Cooldrumman.

“The road must be assessed as a whole rather than looking at specific short sections of a route in isolcation. To avoid driver confusion, it is important not to impose frequent changes in speed limits,” said Brian Flynn Senior Executive Engineer in his report. He said the guidelines suggest speed limits should apply across minimum lengths of around 3km roads. Where the distance between a village where 50kph applies and a primary route, the N15 which is 100kph is less than 3km, it was appropriate that only one speed limit should apply in between which was 8okph.

“To apply a lower speed limit along a short distance of the L3304 fronting the houses at Cooldrumman would not be consistent with the Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland,” said Mr Flynn, adding that any speed limit was not a target and drivers should always drive at a speed appropriate to the road conditions.