Calls For Urgent Review Of Clare Speed Limits

Fresh calls are being made for an urgent review of this county’s speed limits. In the aftermath of the deadliest week this year on Irish Roads, one motorist in this county has been clocked at 65km/h above the speed limit inside the early hours of national slow down day. A total of 127 motorists have been caught driving in excess of the speed limit so far today across Ireland’s road network. CONTINUE READING BELOW Among them are at least four drivers in Clare, one of whom was clocked at 148 km/h in a 120 zone. Another vehicle here registered a speed of 145km/h while towing a trailer, meaning this particular motorist was driving 65km/h above the allotted speed limit on the M18. Today’s National Slow Down Day comes comes in the wake of the deadliest week of the year so far on Irish roads. In the last seven days alone, fatal road traffic collisions in Tipperary, Dublin, Laois, Offaly and Donegal claimed the lives of 11 people, 7 of where under the age of twenty-five. With Garda speed detection operations to be in effect across the country until 7am tomorrow morning, this county’s personnel are appealing to drivers to maintain their focus. Roads Policing Superintendent of the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division Paul Slattery says even a split-second distractions have life changing consequences. Between January and September so far, 126 fatalities have been recorded on Irish roads, up 24% from this time last year. The Taoiseach is set to meet with the Garda Commissioner and the RSA in the coming days to discuss new measures aimed at curbing driver behaviour, with a doubling up of penalty point offences among the proposals tabled. However with 72% of all fatal collisions, this year occurring on rural roads, a former Mayor of Clare believes greater funding is required at a local authority level. With four people already losing their lives on the county’s roads so far, Maghera based Fianna Fáíl Councillor, Pat Hayes says a more pro-active approach is required.