SPEED LIMIT SIGNS are “causing confusion” in East Clare according to a Whitegate representative.
A review of all speed limit signs on local and minor roads plus the removal of the 80km/h signs were sought by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) who said “they are causing confusion”.
Senior executive engineer in Clare County Council’s transportation section, John Gannon in response stated the speed limits and signage would be reviewed at the next speed limit review.
Explaining his reasons for highlighting the issue, Cllr Burke commented, “We are all familiar with 80km/h on local roads and boreens. I understand all regional and local roads have a speed limit of 80km/h, on national roads when you leave a national route and go down that the sign is different. It’s not indicating 80km/h, it’s indicating driving slower”.
On tertiary roads, “instead of signs there is a rural speeding sign with a diagonal line to indicate 80km/h is not appropriate but indicating that through vertical or horizonal alignment that it is not suitable,” acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe MD, Derek Troy explained.
Burke responded, “The Killaloe MD doesn’t have any national roads, I can’t see why it’s not done on regional roads. It doesn’t make sense to be heading down a boreen and heading on a bend indicating that you can do 80km/h but no more”. He acknowledged that it could not be changed overnight.
“It is totally ridiculous to have an 80km/h sign on some of the local or tertiary roads. We know from those roads not to go at those speeds but unfortunately a stranger may come in and hit the speed,” Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) stated.
