Power to reduce speed limit in estates to 20km is to be welcomed – McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has welcome the publication of the Road Traffic Bill 2016 which amongst other provisions allows for the reduction of speed in local authority estates to 20km/h. Deputy McGrath had previously met with and supported the four-day Dáil protest over speed limits in housing estates by Roseanne Brennan whose six-year-old son Jake died after being knocked down by a car in his county Kilkenny estate:
“I am sure that Roseanne and all those who supported her common sense appeal to have the speeds in built up local authority estates reduced will welcome the publication of the Road Traffic Bill 2016.
For the first time it gives local authorities the power to reduce the speed in these estates from the default limit of 50km/h to either 40km/h, 30km/h or 20km/h.
While the Bill as it currently stands continues to allow this option to be at the discretion of local authorities I hope that they will implement it especially in those heavily congested areas where a sensible and prudent reduction in speed is justified.
That would be the greatest legacy for victims of speeding in estates like six year old Jake who lost his short life in such unfortunate and tragic circumstances,” concluded Deputy McGrath.
