Petition over Nenagh speed limit

A petition has been organised over the proposed lowering of the speed limit on the R445 Nenagh-Limerick road back down to 80kmph.

Reclassified as a regional road following the opening of the M7 motorway, the speed limit on the old N7 dropped from 100 to 80kmph. It was brought back up to 100kmph in the 2017 Tipperary County Council Road Traffic Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws, but is now to be reduced to 80kmph again as part of the current national speed limit review, in which the council has no authority.

Speaking at last week's meeting of the council's Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr John Carroll said residents of Ballywilliam and surrounding areas had gathered more than 200 signatures on a petition opposing the lower speed limit. Cllr Carroll pointed out that the R445 is a wide, straight route with a good safety record in recent years. Local residents believe it is “very safe” and don't want the limit changed, Cllr Carroll said, asking the executive to make their position known to the Department of Transport.

He agreed with Cllr Joe Hannigan, who raised the subject of lowered speed limits on a number of local routes, which he said could see more accidents as a result of “driver frustration”. There has to be “common sense” in the application of speed limits, Cllr Hannigan said, asking if there is anything the council can do about the situation.

SPEED VANS

Cllr JP O'Meara said there was an issue with speed vans catching motorists speeding on the R445 when the 80kmph limit was in force. The motorists were driving on a good, straight part of the road and it was generally considered “unfair” for the speed vans to set up there, he said.

Executive Engineer Paul Keane made the point that an 80kmph limit is in effect on the Limerick side of the R445. The second phase of the national review is underway - the first saw L or local-class speed limits reduced from 80 to 60kmph - and the Ballywilliam petition would be submitted and taken into consideration, he said.

Senior Engineer Kieran Malone referenced the debate that led to the council changing the R445 speed limit from its default 80kmph to 100kmph.

The council would not be able to make the decision in this new review, but if the limit is changed, people would be made aware of it, he said. Enforcement of the limit would be a matter for the gardaí.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield called for greater engagement between the council and gardaí where speeding is concerned. She spoke of a road in Newport where speeding is a problem yet no deterrent measures have been seen for several years.

Meanwhile, Cllr Michael O'Meara inquired about the results of a speed survey the council was to have carried out at Ballygraigue, Nenagh. Mr Keane said the council is still assessing the situation and has a number of proposals for Ballygraigue, subject to confirmation of budgets. A report on the matter would be made to the district’s March meeting, he said.