Speed limits are to be lowered in Laois and across Ireland

Laois speed limits on roads big and small are going to be cut back, Laois County Council has announced.

Senior official Paul McLoughlin has confirmed the sort of speed limit cuts planned by the Department of Transport over the coming year.

He says that the 100km/h limit on national roads will go back to 80km/h.  The 80km/h limit will be cut back to 60km/h.  The 50km/h urban limit will become 30km/h.

"Speed limits in general are taking a step down. A new sign of two black lines on a white background will tell people to drive in accordance with what they might encounter on a rural road, like bends and hills. I think that education on these road signs needs to be pushed out," the engineer said. 

Mr McLoughlin confirmed this week that a nationwide Speed Limit Review is starting, and Laois along with every other county must get the ball rolling with a county wide review to inform the new road limits.

"On Friday evening (May 24) a circular was delivered by the Department of Transport, with changes to the 2015 guildelines on speed limits. 

"All local authorities will now commence a speed limit review. By the end of November all rural roads must be reviewed, and in early 2025 urban areas must be done.

"I do feel it's ambitious, as we have to do public consultations. But we will develop a programme now in line with the policy," Mr McLoughlin said.

He spoke at the May meeting of Laois County Council, following a request for an update by Cllr James Kelly.

"I feel very strongly about this. Of the 18 notices of motion in our own Municipal District this month, 13 were about road safety. 

"A statistic from the World Health Organisation says a 5% reduction in speed could result in a 30% reduction in fatal collisions. How will they target the right cohort with any campaign if they don't give resources to councils? 

"It's left to us as councillors to use our discretionary budgets to provide road safety measures when the Government should be providing them. We can't do anything with €25,000 a year each," Cllr Kelly said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald agrees.

"It is one of the biggest issues, affecting every single road in every area," she said.

Cllr Ben Brennan is also unhappy at having to use his discretionary budget for road safety.

"We seem to have to put money into ramps ourselves, it's not fair. We should be able to put our money to better use. Speed is getting worse," he said.

In Ballyroan, Cllr Barry Walsh said that a traffic survey by the council proved that a "high percentage of people are speeding at 30 or 40km over the speed limit.

"It's definitely in the top two issues we get on the doorsteps. We need to do something," he agreed.

Others are concerned that Transport Infrastructure Ireland will again overrule Laois decisions on speed limits on national roads, over which they have sole authority.

"I remember the TII increased the limit on a road into Mountmellick to 100km/h. I opposed it, they dropped it but it took opposition. there has to be consultation with the local authority on what roads need a speed adjustment," said Cllr Paddy Bracken.

Cllr Willie Aird is also concerned that local recommendations may be overruled again by the TII. Cllr John Joe Fennelly said this happened in Abbeyleix on the Portlaoise road, where the TII brought a 60km/h limit right into town to the Heritage Centre, past a row of houses.

Cllr Padraig Fleming meanwhile, said "you can have all the flashing signs but they are not obeyed. Ramps do slow traffic," he said.