Safety warning as battery thieves put lives at risk on Limerick roads
There have been around 40 reported incidents of electronic driver feedback signs being damaged across Limerick
CALLS have been made for “harsher” penalties to be imposed on anybody who steals batteries from roadside speed signs.
The Limerick Leader / Limerick Live has learned there have been around 40 reported incidents in the county in recent years.
Highlighting the issue, elected members of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District say such incidents represent a “massive danger” to road safety and need to be stopped.
At their September meeting, Cllr Tommy Hartigan and Cllr John O’Donoghue pledged a combined €7,500 from their discretionary fund to support the purchase and repair of three signs in the townlands of Creeves and Kilfinny.
Cllr O’Donoghue explained the batteries themselves are relatively inexpensive but the act of prying the battery loose badly damages the sign.
Cllr Hartigan said it’s “very frustrating” to have to use money that is meant to support community groups and schools to repair the signage. “Communities are losing out by councillors having to use their discretionary money on this.”
The electronic signs, which warn motorists if they are travelling over the speed limit, are officially known as ‘driver feedback signs’ and can cost up to €4,500 each to purchase and install.
“Anybody interfering with road safety measures should be dealt with very harshly,” said Cllr O’Donoghue.
“A lot of these signs are in rural areas where there are usually no traffic lights or speed cameras. They have been tampered with and damaged at very dangerous locations. I believe they are very effective in curtailing certain levels of speeding on Limerick roads.
“We are not putting these up for no reason. They are specifically there to make roads safer for everybody. For somebody to come along and tamper with them in any way, shape or form - for the price of a battery - is just wrong.
“If they are that badly caught for a couple of batteries - sure we'll get them a few! It’s certainly better than thousands of euros meant for schools and community groups being spent on repairing them.”
In reply to a media query, a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said it is “aware of approximately 40 incidents involving the theft of batteries from driver feedback signs across the county in recent years.”
The spokesperson added: “Repairs and replacements have been carried out where possible. Secure brackets were introduced in some areas and have helped to deter further theft; however, a small number of signs have since had brackets cut and batteries removed again.
The council is liaising with suppliers on improved security measures and the thefts have been reported to gardai.