Speed limits to be reduced in Limerick city
SPEED LIMITS in Limerick city centre are to be reduced after councillors approved new by-laws at their September meeting.
At present, drivers using city centre streets can travel up to 50 kilometres per hour (kph).
But on Thursday, November 30, that will all change, with the majority of streets in the central area having a new limit in place of 30 kph .
The measure has been taken for safety reasons, with studies showing the stopping time for vehicles being driven at a lower speed is much reduced.
Although the new by-laws were approved by members, there was some scepticism on the council floor.
Fianna Fail's northside councillor Kieran O'Hanlon said: “I do not see much use in it. The Rhebogue estate has been 30kph for the last number of years. Most people just ignore it, and I've never seen a speed van or a guard around there.
“Enforcement is in order - not changing the numbers on signs,” he added.
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan, however, raised the issue of the tragic deaths of pedestrians on city streets.
“We simply need people to stop speeding in the city,” said Cllr O’Donovan.
Labour member Joe Leddin urged council bosses to remove the remaining 25kph signs from the city.
These were introduced on a temporary basis during Covid-19 when social distancing saw many people swap meeting indoors for congregating outside.
Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler called for the reduction of signage, saying extensive notices like this can cause accidents themselves.
But Abbeyfeale councillor Liam Galvin raised the recent case of a driver doing 200 kph in Mayo.
“Do we think by cutting the speed limit we will stop people like that?” the Fine Gael man asked.