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A CALL FROM TD Clare Daly that the motorway speed limit be raised from 120km per hour to 130km per hour has been rejected by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar.
It has been suggested that higher speed limits on motorways could help boost the economy by shortening journey times. However the government has been working on a number of new measures over the last year to reduce speed on roads, though this is mainly in rural areas and city centres.
So what do you think? Should the speed limit on Irish motorways be raised?
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A section of the N4 in Dublin goes from 80km to 60km to 30km to 60km in about 200 meters of the road. And they always have a speed camera sitting waiting. Money making Scam. Around the Liffey Valley area.
Couldn’t agree more. I travel this way to work and I spend more time looking at my speedometer , than I do the road.
Thats because you have several roads converging in that area so slower speeds help reduce incidence of collisions.
I’m aware of that but surely after the Texaco garage heading to Galway there is no need for such a low speed limit?
@Matt
Where exactly is there a 30 km/h limit on the N4 near Liffey Valley (eastbound or westbound)? Is it visible on Google Street View?
I’m sceptical, to say the least.
Compared to other European countries the Irish drivers are amongst the least educated and disciplined.
And this is not my opinion.
I am a long distance haulier and my travels include most EU countries.
The Germans have a lower road fatality rate than the Irish.
Eventhough most motorways in Germany have NO Speedlimits.
Enough said.
Ireland has one of the lowest road fatalities in Europe. Lower than Germany.
Marc…
Produce your data.
Per km travelled the Germans have a lower incident rate.
Especially considering that they have virtually no speed limit on Autobahns.
Antonov the link I provided from the EU press release states that 36 deaths on Irish roads per million inhabitants. In Germany it’s 44 per million inhabitants.
Couldn’t agree more. Just back from a trip where I drove through the United Kingdom, France , Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and the Nederland. Breaks my heart coming back to drive here seeing all the apes sit in the middle or overtaking lanes on the M1 M50 and N7. Saw a van the other day on the M7 driving just about 50 km/h straddling the hard shoulder on the motorway. I’d love to see the limit increased but with the way so many people drive here and total lack of regard for lane discipline it would probably do more damage than good.
Maybe introduce minimum speed on motorway. Along with the upper limit. A lot of accidents are caused by drivers driving way to slow. Example: someone driving 40kph on a 125kph road.
Sorry typo 120kph not 125.
Right on the money there. Also some people don’t understand that the right lane is for overtaking. PLEASE GO BACK INTO THE LEFT LANE AFTER!!!!
Yes. And no way should trucks ever go into the overtaking lane. They move out and cannot overtake the vehicle in front. They then sit in the overtaking lane for miles.
its against the law for trucks to be on the outside lane so they shouldnt be overtaking
You can report them onve driving under half the speed limit as there a danger to themselves and other road users
I think trucks have a desperate speed limit anyway don’t they? 80 or 100kph?
Yep they do but ya can by pass it going down hill on the motorway and clutch in as itll roll passed the 80k limit
The reason there is a speed limit on trucks is that they are harder to stop than cars because of their heavy loads. If you are rear ended by another car you will survive. However rear ended by a vehicle weighing many tonnes decreases chance of survival even if it hits u at a low speed. (something to do with Newton laws)
Driving any vehicle without the clutch engaged means u have less control of the vehicle
Didnt say I do it I know of truck drivers who used to do it.
Is it Gary? Like I had that discussion with my sister lately and she agrees with your words here, but I thought trucks are allowed to pass on the outside lane….especially if there is no oncoming traffic like? :/
In the UK trucks or large vehicles are banned from using the third lane on a motorway, however as most of our motorways are two lane this is sadly not practical.
I seem to remember a road safety advertisement on TV advising motorists that a speed limit is not a target and that there is no minimum limit. If a person is pulled over for “insufficient progress” they could reasonably say they felt that traffic or road conditions led them to believe that travelling faster might be dangerous. That is their right. If they were forced to travel faster and by chance were involved in an accident I imagine there would be a huge compensation claim against the state. People should use good judgement in using the roads. If you were to drive at 100KM/H during icy/foggy or torrential rain conditions it would be reasonable to call that speed dangerous and hazardous even though the allowed speed limit was 120KM/H. In those conditions, driving at 50KM/H could not be considered “insufficient progress”.
Slightly off topic, but the amount of commenters who agree with lights on at all times, you could count on one hand the amount in picture using them, even with a strong blinding sun
@Shawn Rahoon:
Regarding using headlights during daytime, I believe it may have some merit in built up areas. If it was a legal requirement to do so everywhere I would hope that some reduction in fuel prices would follow as the extra fuel used in a year of motoring to generate the additional energy needed to recharge the battery would be significant as well as more frequent bulb replacement. We motorists are being screwed if we move, if we park and with motor tax, if we do nothing. Where will it all end?
Often the slower drivers are half blind and for vanity reasons will not wear glasses or hearing aids.
Overall our driving standards are below par and places like Donegal take bad driving to a new level.
Your dynamite at boring people aren’t you? I bet you drive a really big car. You and Emmet should have a race. Correct me if I’m wrong but I bet Emmet would like a competition with a real man dragster like you.
@john, I always drive with dips and spots, the rsa already have signs erected in mayo in regards to using dipped headlights during daytime hrs, but never made it an official rule, anything that makes you more visable on the roads is a gud thing, anyways our skys are always overcast, so it should be mandatory… but that would make too much sence for our outdated, ould foogie, government.
@Ronan, unless you got Spots fitted specially you are one of thousands of people who use fog lights day and night and are not aware they should only be used (wait for it) in Fog and Heavy Snow. Besides risking 2 penalty points it is potentially dangerous because they take away night vision of other road users and makes the drivers look foolish with their obvious lack of
knowledge regarding the rules of the road.
@david, there on modern cars, and there called daytime running lights, and there on most modern audis, and I put dips on with them…so how am I breaking the law by making myself more visible? And yes there are separate fog lights which are used only in foggy or snowy weather.
My point Ronan is when people say Spots (which are specialist lights) they often mean front Fogs which play havoc in rain and night driving for other road users. Daytime Running Lights do not cause chaos in their wake. No offence intended :-)
We need Real motorways-not glorified dual carriageways! – 3 lanes with a huge campaign in educating people how to drive on them!
Most idiots think they should only drive in the fast lane or switch to whichever lane is moving faster instead of Only driving in the fast lane to overtake-Idiots! !
I thought motorways were only reserved for Audi drivers
it’s not a fast lane, it’s an overtaking lane.
Well said David. That really gets on my wick when people call it the “Fast Lane”. That’s where half the issues on Motorways arise.
Scenario, somebody in lane 1 doing 100 kmh, somebody goes in to lane 2 , the “Fast Lane” at 110- 120 kmh to over take, and then stays there because they’re going faster. Even though lane one is clear of traffic, and cars are queuing up over take them, but they won’t move as they’re going at te speed limit!
It’s not your job to police the motorways….get out of the feckin way!!!
Oh shut up if we were to do that we would get no were because you be in front driving 50kph in a 100kph zone
If we were to do what George? Actually obey the rules of the road?
Nonsense. Irish motorways are amongst the best in the world. Apart from say a section linking cork to limerick we dont need any more. The traffic volumes dont justify them. No need for three lane ones with the exception of the M50 perhaps.
And no doubt you are one of the scourges on our roads causing death and hardship. Its an overtaking lane not a fast lane. I drive thousands of kms a year around Ireland and to be honest the behaviour on our motorways is generally very safe and good. The biggest problem I see are the ‘fast lane’ users!
Sorry 120kph to be honest you have more of a chance crashing overtaking some one then driving in A straight line so if people were not driving so slow in the normal lane añd middle lane then I would agree with your post at the end if the day it people who drive to slow because they don’t know how to drive at the speed limit that are to nervous is the people that will also cause crashes as well as people that speed. Our driving test is a joke we should be teaching people how to get out of skids proper car control. And one that annoys me how to fecking indicate at roundabouts rsa put a as on TV on how to do this that’s how sad for us
So between limerick and Cork we should encourage all the HGvs to travel on single carriageways ? That’s were accident happen, overtaking and pulling out of side roads. Pity you drive a few thousand more k’s to appreciate motorways.
I agree with the rules Stephen my point is some people driving to slow as most people know just say I want to go to Donegal as I do most of the time I go on the m1 i am in the correct lane but I come up to a car that is going 60 kph on a 120kph motorway then I move to overtake and I meet some one in the middle lane going 80kph so i have to go in the next overtaking lane to get to the speed I want to go and most of the time you get in that lane some one driving up your hole tailgating you as you are driving 120kph so if you have to keep moving in and out of lanes it increases the percentage of having a crash.
I agree with the basis of your point George. The main problem stems for. Poor lane discipline on motorway, which is exacerbated on two lane motorways.
But that still does not negate the main point. The outside lane of a motorway, or dual carriageway for that matter is an over taking lane. You are supposed to move back into the left hand most lane when you’re finished passing the vehicle moving more slowly. And the only people who are responsible for policing he speeds on Irish (RoI) roads are the Gardaí, and the private company who operate the Gatso vans.
Have u sat on the inside lane ? With the amount of peiple who cant drive around ya your getting cut up left right and centre, the safest place is the over taking lane oh nd I dont be going slow enough in it t have a que in behind me ;)
Bollox, there surface is pure shite falling apart, there actually a hole by blanch on it. Drive uo the a1 and feel the difference, should get the english to build our motorways cause we cant build anything that doesn’t fall apart.
Using the overtaking lane properly argument on a busy motorway is a fallacy in terms of road safety.
Constantly making maneuvers and having to focus on speeding up and slowing down and looking to overtake a short time later, is obviously a higher risk probability. Better to pick your speed and stay in your lane.
A lot of accidents are caused by centre lane users who get bored sitting behind a truck doing 40km, who decide that its best even though there are about 20 or 30 cars coming up behind, to pull out into the overtaking lane as there seems to be space at that moment beside them.
That is the 2nd most reckless thing you can do on a motorway, the 1st is driving the wrong way against the traffic.
To make it even worse in a 3 or 4 lane you have a hogger in outside overtaking lane doing 30 kmh under the limit and everyone waiting to pass him. They have to queue behind. No wonder you always have empty driving lane.
If a hogger is in lane 3 of a 4 lane motorway, how is it safer to make 6 separate lane changes, plus an overtake than to just pass in driving lane?
@ Tom I agree with nearly all of what you are saying but you say we don’t need anymore motorways?! There is a huge need for a motorway connecting the M1 at Ardee to the A5 through the North towards Donegal/Derry…I drive this route on a weekly basis and the volume of traffic going to Dublin from the North West & vice versa is massive….there was a proposal that the Irish & UK governments would jointly fund a motorway but the muppets in the Dail pulled out!!!
actually grainne, the vast majority of motorways in the uk were built by irish firms and irish labourours, the difference being that there was a lot less corruption in the planning and building of the motorways there than there was here, no brown envolopes to county engineers or planners, no pre purchasing of wasteland just before it goes into a compulsery purchase order worth millions. that is the difference and you can only blame the irish political system of’ ‘ back handers for the boys ‘ for that .
Thanks for the reply I think if you were to enforce this rule just say on the m50
there would be big problems due to the amount off ramps in the left lane so again you would get people moving into the middle and right lane to be honest I think the m50 would have really bad grid lock if that rule was enforced there. I say also it is poor management of the state from the ground up from learning how to drive to enforcing the rules. and to a point people want to get to work and get home as fast as possible within the rules (some don’t we know) but when i am coming home from were every i don’t want to be stuck behind some one going 50kph on the m50 I want to go the full 100kph in the dry to get home and I don’t want to be going in and out of lanes unless they are free of slow drivers that i do not want to be behind.
Just to quote here:
( Lane 3 – You should only use this lane if traffic in lanes 1 and 2 is moving
in queues and you need to overtake or make room for merging traffic.
Again, you should move back to lane 1 as soon as it is safe to do so.
When overtaking, only move between two lanes at a time. For example, to move
from lane 1 to lane 3, first move into lane 2 and wait to move to lane 3 until it is
safe to do so.) m50 is always in queues when i am on it
and just a copy of the rules of the road for everybody
I would agree with some of what you’re saying in that George, but the M50 isn’t a great example.
Most of the exits in the M50 have Auxiliary lanes to make it easier for people to merge/ exit with/ from the main carriage ways. In these lanes, overtaking on the left is allowed.
One of the only other times where over taking on the left, or driving in lanes 2 and 3 are allowed are when traffic in other lanes is moving as slowly in all lanes, eg traffic at peak times.
@george, dead right.
no not when the majority of irish drivers don’t understand the rules of the road, and are oblivious to what’s going on outside their little bubble.
The motorways are fine as they are, it’s the stupid Donkeys that insist on using the middle lane at all times while the inside lane is clear. For a trial period the Traffic Corp should patrol and educate these morans on motorway driving.
Its ridiculous that you pass a driving test therefore enabling you to drive on a motorway without ever having driven on a motorway!!
In the UK the police now have the power to pull over middle-lane and outer-lane hogs and fine them.
At peak traffic times on the M50 or any other very busy road it would be impractical to expect drivers not to use all the lanes, not just the inside lane. The outside lane is for overtaking only in light traffic conditions. I can’t imagine the M50 having only 2 of the 3 lanes in use during peak traffic times.
There should be electronic speeding signs to change the speed limit depending on traffic and weather conditions.
We also should have better education around motorway driving. .. eg driving too slow sub 80k and 80k too slow min .
Learning which lanes a driver should be in as well. Often on the M1 practically everyone is in the overtaking lane and a handful in the driving lane . The motorway becomes a single lane road and all the benefits go out the window.
We need better enforcement of the rules not just speed.
Why isn’t there a deprecate speed limit for artics?
Separate
spot on declan are they all learner drivers that dont understand that the second lane is for overtaking only? or they just dont understand the motorway.get them off the road til they do i say.
Your dead right Declan! The M1 is a disaster in the morning. They all just sit in the over taking lane. You can make better progress in lane 1 most of the time in the mornings!
@ Declan Byrne:
“There should be electronic speeding signs to change the speed limit depending on traffic and weather conditions.”
That was developed in the UK some years ago and demonstrated on the BBC program “Tomorrows World”. As all cars built in the last 20 years have electronic engine management, it would be easy to have a receiver fitted to all vehicles. There are two ways of controlling the speed limit. (1) Via satellite. (2) Via local transducers on roadsides. The advantage of local transducers is that it would be under local council control so road works or a traffic accident etc. could be managed to alter speeds. Another great use would be in crime prevention. If a criminal tried to make a fast getaway from a crime scene, the police (who would not have speed control transducer receivers fitted) could issue an “All Stop” command and easily catch up on the criminals. If, by chance the criminals were in a car without the receiver they would be caught up in the stalled traffic ahead anyway. We have all heard of serious multi-vehicle pileups on UK motorways due to sudden fog and drivers not slowing down. This system could eliminate this.
Idea is fine. Provided full training systems are put in place teaching everyone how to use their mirrors when overtaking, using indicators, only using left lane unless overtaking (drives me insane) this training system should be done anyway but perhaps this speed increase suggestion would encourage the thought of showing people how to use the bloody road. There’s too many people out there who got their licence in the post in the 80′s and can’t actually drive!
How to deal with a backlog in driving test applications, give them driving licenses.
It was given free to those who had a second or plus provisional license.
And that was in 1979.
Ok thanks..1979, close enough. The exact year isn’t the issue here!
Ok thanks..1979, close enough. The exact year isn’t the issue here!
Your welcome. Your welcome!
The amount of people who got those licences are very few given the overall picture. Also truck drivers have to do 1 day training every year, when was the last time car drivers had to sit down for driver training ?
I absolutely agree Mick. Having done my test 3 years ago I’d consider the material to be somewhat still ‘fresh’ in my mind. By no means am I saying I’m a perfect driver but obviously general rules of the road would be better understood by the likes of myself compared to someone who was handed their licence in 1979 or by someone who has done their ‘test’ 50+ years ago. Mandatory annual refreshment of rules of the road needs to be introduced in my opinion
The queue from what I saw went all the way around the fruit market as I went to get my first license and you can multiple that by another few for when I wasn’t there. I left it for a few days later. If they were to be called back there would be too many job losses, but if they’re confident enough they should have no bother
Some people can’t drive properly on them as it is(tailgating /not using indicator etc… raising the speed limit would just cause carnage .
Ffs. 120 on a motorway is pedestrian. Upping it to 140 and there wouldn’t be the slightest difference. Carnage my ar*e.
Fully agree snug..the biggest dangers I see on the motorways that I travel regularly on are people doing 50mph in the right hand lane..causing people doing 70mph to break sudeen when coming up to them..these 50mph motorway drivers are the same ppl who wont move out of the left lane and into the right hand lane when approaching an intersection where adjoining traffic will be coming on from their left!! See it every day!!!!
Agreed. Many a problem would be solved if NRA ran a campaign telling people the difference between the fast lane and the slow lane. Also, penalty points for it would be useful.
It’s unbelievable so many can’t tell. You’d never see it on the continent by comparison.
Its a difference of 10 kph more.Not unlimited whatever you are having yourself German autobahn, speed.
There is no “slow” or “fast” lane.. Outside lanes are for overtaking, after which the vehicle should return to the left hand lane.
Except on the M50 if course, where people try to negate millions of euros spent on adding extra lanes by doing 95kph in the middle fcuking lane, overtaking fresh air.
@nigel, true, a lot of L drivers on the motorway aswel, they shouldnt be anywhere near it, there a bloody menace, and I dont see the gardai enforcing the law either, there was suppose to be a rule introduced three years ago banning L drivers from driving without a qualified driver… but once again ireland takes a step backwards, and yes the speed limit should be increased to 140kph, 120 in all fairness is a bit slow, and drivers regularly drive the motorway at 160kph daily..so…
To the L driver red thumbing my comment, just get to fcuk off the motorways.
Other countries have dual speeds depending on weather. 130 when dry and 110 when wet. Works very well I think.
Wouldn’t have a hope of working here.
Wouldn’t work here as we have idiots who
Always do 100 in 80 zone.
120-130 in the 100 zone
And about 150 in 120 zone
The most interesting ones are the ones that do 80 in the 120 zone, and 80 in the 60 zone? Whats that all about?
Should the speed limit on motorways be raised?
No
Should the Irish driving test be over hauled and include but not be limited to testing: how to change a tire, parking both parallel and reversing into a spot?
A massive YES.
First time I changed a car tyre I was aged just 10.
My self and my brother were supposed to go to a party but the car had a flat. Dad said if we wanted to go to the party we would have to change the tyre so we did.
My brother was 11. Tbh it wasn’t rocket science. A couple of nuts were a bit stiff but we had the tyre changed and dad took us to the party…
Our speed limits are there not to save lives but to raise revenue!
100km on the m50 is a joke but you’ll notice it’s 120km after carrickmines.
Why ? It’s the same road
I know people will say there’s a higher volume of traffic.
We need to start fining people who drive in the overtaking lane that’s right folks its not a fast lane. Its a lane you use to overtake someone and then you move back into the left lane.
If you drive in the UK , this works.
In Germany on some parts of the motorway there is no speed limit at all but people use their head and drive responsibly!
I think after Carrickmines you are on to the M11? not sure though. Also I remember hearing that the lanes in M50 were made slightly too small so that the speed limit has to be a maximum of 100kmh
@Emmet Boyle:
The M50 from the airport is 100KM/H, reduced from 120KM/H and that’s after the road was upgraded with an extra lane! After junction 13, Ballinteer, the road was not altered at all so it’s still good for 120KM/H…Go figure!
My respect for the NRA went out the window after that and the same nonsense at the Glen of the Downs after significant upgrading, the 60MPH limit was reduced to 40MPH and only increased to 50MPH after an annoyed motorist pointed out this anomaly on the Joe Duffy show. Who bestowed the title Authority on the NRA?…They did! I am now declaring myself king of Ireland. I have bestowed the title on myself! as apparently it is my right to do this in Ireland.
P.S. How about 24Hour bus lanes for the 24 hour available buses. Again…Go figure!
Interesting point!
120km is just fine but I’d like to see all motorways with that limit. 100km on the M50 needs to be raised
I was wondering why it was so low so I looked it up. Its 100kph to reduce emmissions around the dublin area.
That’s mad. I thought they reduced the speed limit because of the number of exit and enter lanes onto the M50?
The reason it is 100km on the M50 is due to the number of interchanges. Think how close the ballymount and red cow are together. I dont understand this need for increasing speed limits. Surely 100km on m50 and 120 on other stretches of motorways is ample. People calling for increased speed limits are usually road rage types who drive a big look at me car to substitute for their other short comings in life
@tom, you sound like a angry, jealous, micra driver..
Yes up to 140km
There’s loads of crashes on the motorways these days. Increasing the speed limit would be madness. Plus you’d use a lot more fuel probably.
Increasing the speed limit doesn’t mean you have to automatically drive faster
Philosophically does the speed limit actually exist at all ?
Better late then never.
That’s what she said
Had an idiot tailgating and flashing me on the fast lane yesterday. It was pretty clear we all wanted to drive faster, but there was a truck slowing the whole lane down. I wonder if the idiot behind me was just going to take everyone out, one by one, terminator style. Mind boggles.
It’s not a fast lane! Overtake & pull back in to the left hand lane.
It’s an overtaking lane. Not a fast lane.
Gavin. You and the people giving you green thumbs are exactly whats wrong with irish roads. If someone is flashing it means you are in the wrong lane or they wish to overtake you. Sitting there with an attitude like ‘sure he wants ta take us all out’ is gormless. You should be flashing the people ahead of you if you want that truck to move or else moce over yourself. Sitting there in the wrong lane being pig ignorant to other road users is dangerous.
We were all flashing the truck ahead of us(those of us close enough to the truck anyhow). N7 moving along at 80km/hr on a lazy Saturday afternoon! I get your point, but in this case, we were all trying to get past the truck. I am pretty sure the guy behind me, was not flashing the truck from 300m and 7 cars back! Root cause of the dangerous situation;Truck in overtaking lane. Contributing cause; jeep tailgating me and flashing in anger thereby causing unnecessary anger.
When I’m in situations like that and if I dont see the people ahead flashing then I’ll start flashing them. Its a matter of judgement but if i see that there is room for people to pull over then I’d expect them to. I see it EVERY morning, cars doing 80kph in overtaking lane and this strange zombie like row of cars behind them and not one of them pull over or flash to wake up the moron ahead, its bizarre! people need to be more arrogant towards the morons, politeness doesnt work and leads to undertaking or aggressive driving.
Keep going aggressive then. As a motorist you need to be passive or aggressive. No in- betweens!!
Thats true, having lived in other countries its either offensive/defensive or passive/aggressive. Then again leaving 10 minutes earlier eases any pressure you could be under but thats in an ideal world. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, safe driving!
Ppl are already doing 130/140
The Kessel run in 11 parsecs?
Was it not 10?
That doesn’t make sense, a parsec is a very large unit distance. Its like saying I can make a chocolate muffen in 3 kilos
Doesn’t change the fact that it was 10 and not 11 and that it’s muffin and not muffen.
You’re correct, Luke. And now if you can point to the Kessel on a map of Ireland…
Always thought it would be like the canon ball run as opposed to a place.
It was 12 parsecs and Kessel is a sector of space IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY, Kevin. The whole notion in relation to travel by car on a motorway is preposterous.
Is there anyone who would like to disprove the account of a gorilla ordering a drink in a pub?
The standard of driving in Ireland is shocking, raising the speed limit will do no good at all.
Talk about running before ya can walk!! This would be a disaster and would cause in increase in accidents. As a nation, we don’t have a clue how to properly use motorways. We don’t allow novice drivers on motorways and the driving test has no motorway skills section, so bad habits on our motorways are abundant to say the least. Lane hogging, incorrect entering, weaving, undertaking, tail-gating etc. etc.
More public awareness campaigns on this please……and not just ads on the little TV in the NCT centre or during the Shortland Street repeat at 3am!
I have no problem with weaving if it’s done properly. I observed this in the States where it’s the norm on the freeways. But then, US drivers get their licences earlier and are probably better taught.
The driving test amnesty came in in the late 70s. I missed out by about six months as I started my lessons in 1979 and the amnesty had stopped by then. I had to do the test ,and passed in 1980.
Every motorway in Ireland should be 120km. Especially the one on the way to Dublin the road is well able for it
every motor way is 120km… your speeding too much to actually read the speed limit
The M50 is 100km for most of it
Like above M50 is 100km once you hit Naas.
Naas Dublin bound is N7 not M7. South bound it becomes m7 at Naas.
it’s actually a dual carriage way not motor way from naas north bound to Dublin…. look up NRA
Wrong m50 is 100kmh
Is this the first time Leo doesn’t have an opinion?
I saw him once outside the bleeding horse , parking on a double yellow line.
Do as I say folks not as I do!
A suggestion id make is for a minimum speed limit on all roads eg if the limit is 100 k then the min should be 90 kph,the tailbacks caused by slow drivers cause the frustration followed by someone making a rash decision,everyone who drives has seen it happening at some point!
Madness… speed limits are a maximum not an apiration. The current rule…making progress appropriate to the conditions is far more sensible than attempting unenforceable minimums
Barry, I’ve been saying this to RSA for years. There is no reason not to have this sign on motorways – dual carriage ways. Country roads, probably because of agricultural machinery with heavy loads may not be able to adhere to limits. But I think 120max to 100min, 100 to 80, 80 to 60.
I also think the gaps between speed limits are too great. In US they step every 5 mph where in Ire it’s every 12mph. We should have 90 kmh and 70 kmh
Raise the M50 to 120kph. Make safe (straightish) sections of all trans-country motorways autobahn-like limitless in dry weather and reduced limits in wet weather. Make the overtaking lane only accessible to people with cars that have been assessed as safe for higher speeds and to people who have passed an advanced driving test. This should be designed to check that 1) The person can actually see, 2) they know what mirrors are for, 3) they have a good enough reaction time, 4) they know when to let someone overtake them. :-)
There was interesting documentary done in reference to speeds in Canada. If I think of the name of it, I’ll dig it out and post a link.
One of the points made was that a speed limit should be set so that 80% of people driving on it find it too fast… It is a limit not a target after all.
Also, speed does not necessarily imply danger, it is when cars are travelling at different speeds that accidents happen. The same documentary had the perfect graph to illustrate the ridiculousness of “speed kills”… That might have had something to do with the name actually aswell.
I think the limit should be 140kph. A limit that is too fast for a lot of people, but that which experienced drivers can handle. I’ve had experience on the M9 of people going much much fast than that… And I didn’t end up passing their burned out wreck!
Speed kills your pocketbook.
240kmh is achievable done it in germany on the autobahn on the speed limit less part im still alive
Every speed kills but inappropriate speed kills more than excessive speed.
The whole way of teaching people to drive should be revamped. The european way is much better. You learn how to drive on the road first. Then you do some dual carriageway/motorway driving. Finally you do nighttime driving. The major problem with irish drivers is that most don’t know or think the rules of the road apply to them.
Looking at the Red zone it looks like a lot of Road Hogs are up early this morning. They should get Rules of the Road from Santa.
I drive the M3 and Irish People do not know how to use motorways, hoards of atrocious, inconsiderate and dangerous examples of driving every day.. you want to let them go faster? Speed limits are a target to Irish motorist, nothing else.
How can increasing the speed limit shorten the journey-time for more coffee for someone I think.
What?
Time I would think. The faster you drive, the shorter length of time it takes.
The faster you drive, the less control you have over the car.
Did you not do the maths exercise of the train starting at a given time, travelling the same distance at different speeds and having to work out the time spent travelling or the arrival time?!
The amount of red thumbs my comment got just goes to show how many people think they’re invincible.
Or they think you dont know how to drive properly.
Because I drive safely it means I don’t know how to drive properly? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
@martin, “how can increasing the speed limit, shorten your journey time”, thats because the faster you go the more ground you cover in less time! Self evident really, speed= time/distance.
@john, cmon, cars these days are designed to be safe at speed, most big cars can do in excess of 160kph safely and comfortably, its the unskilled or dumbass driver thats the problem.
Like people have said drivers are to dangerous at lower speeds let alone higher , just about everyone thinks it ok no matter what speed you are doin to drive 2 foot from my arse and the stupid thing is they don’t even want to over take
Why Raise it! the majority of users don’t even know what a speed limit represent. For the Garda they don’t even be around to catch the fools speeding… what makes me laugh at the fools speeding there only two or three cars a head of you at a traffic light… Poor Fools
Eh there are no traffic lights on the motorways !
Spa
no ur right but on dual carriage way at newlands cross there’s traffic lights… aka coming off motor way
Nass rd at new lands cross is not a motorway
Clare Daly only wants to increase the speed so she and that other useless moran Wallace can speed down to Ennis to defend an 80 year old vandal who should be in jail. I do not pay tax for that sh1te!
I see the Alan Partridge grammar police are alive & kicking this morning! – The point shouldn’t be whether you refer to the overtaking lane as a fast lane that should only br used for overtaking- it should be the central point that this lane-whatever you want to call it should ONLY be used to drive Faster to overtake Slower moving vehicles driving Below the speed limit!
A lot of Pedantic Pats out there! :-/
How about educating the idiots that do not understand the rules of motorway driving. Most licence holders in this country have never received instruction on how to drive on a motorway. Basic things such as mirror, signal, manoeuvre don’t seem to apply once you’ve passed your test.
No. But they could improve public transport. And they should give free Electricity and Water to low income families and individuals. There are a lot of people in this country who never owned a car and do not contribute to the carbon deathprint of the car industry.
You should get an award for your massive contribution to the prevention of global warming.
Rivers are the earth’s tears and motorways are the devils scalextric. Wake up people!
Motorways are how we get to work, how we transport goods e.g. Food e.t.c.
Stop posting nonsense!
…and they don’t pay ridiculous road and fuel taxes. Aside from that- we’d make a bigger impact all going vegan than if we stopped using vehicles outright. So what was your point?!
Emmet, your obviously a big contributor to global warming with your personal methane emissions. Try cycling, it would knock some of the lard of your rear.
It’s funny our politicians were able to compare our salaries with the rest of Europe but not our rip off road tax.
I’d like the Journal to ask Leo this question below:
Why a 1.8t Passat is €660 to tax for a year in the South?
Same car in Newry is £160 to tax for a year?
Why?
Cows emit more co2 then most cars these days. By your logic we should give free electricity to vegetarians and vegans too?
If you’re not a road user then your opinion on motorway usage/safety is as worthless as my own opinion on communal living is.
Ye and you are another free loader looking for the rest of us to pay for your water and electricity.
We live in Ireland , if you honestly believe you can impact on saving the planet by not driving a car while America fires missiles in Afghanistan and drive 4ltr cars ,you are even more delusional than I first thought!
Yes we all have to do our bit but please give us a break. I cannot cycle to work because I have to travel to work on the motorway !
Do you work?
Or maybe it’s a nice short cycle to the post office for your wages?
Good point John. Some of us must have cars to work and pay the bills. I’m sick of the high and mighty approach by cyclists. I travel 50km to and from work every day just to pay my bills.
Because we are Irish simple
Patricia I feel sorry for you, but the topic is about raising the speed limit on the motorway.
So my last piece of advice for you is opinions are like arseholes , everybody has one and I’d appreciate it if you would keep yours to yourself!
Kevin. Pedestrians are road users too. and I agree that your opinion is worthless.
Well said Kevin!
Emmet, it is not my fault that you are overweight. I am a slim trim elegant pedestrian with as much entitlement to give my opinion as the overweigh slobs driving around the country and destroying the environment with their carbon monoxide emissions, not to mention their vitroilic methane emissions when a non motorist expresses an opinion. Free Public Transport for all low income families and individuals. Don’t worry about the cost. Emmet and the other motoring slobs can pay for it out of their road taxes and car tax, that is if the Banksters don’t rob it first.
My apologies. I’ll retract and rephrase, if you don’t use the motorway then you’re opinion is of no value as you’d be speaking from a position of no experience which in my worthless opinion would make you an idiot.
So you obviously live off the State and want us to pay your bills!
Get a life Patricia and a job!
If u want a family , pay for it yourself like the rest of us do!
Have a look at China and South Koreas missiles there and give yourself a pat on the back for cycling a fecking bike.
I hope you are just a troll and not an idiot!
If you provide free public transport then usage would increase leading to more buses and trains. They don’t run on vegan farts patricia, no matter how slim, trim and elegant they are.
Brilliant Kevin!
Kevin and Emmet, I think there is a charity where your wives will be given free gas masks. Poor things. It must be horrible for them having to endure the stench you two are emitting. Both of you combined are a positive danger to health. ‘Keep Ireland Methane Free’.
Troll or Idiot?
I actually think you are both Patricia!
Raise the speed limit on the motorway?
Your answer,
Free water , electricity and public transport for low income families!
I’m slim and trim because I ride a bike!
Well done Patricia , now run back to school and apply for some free education.
You need it!
How did the last ice age happen? And howd it all melt away? You have fallen to the media, its the earths natural cycle to rejuvenate itself
No pedestrian s stay on foot paths were they belong!
Baha yad hate me took me cat out of the car and all emmissions that if it was post 08 it be 1k tax on my emmissions
Pull that saddle out of your arse and get a job, stop expecting others to pay for your bike rides!
@Emmet Boyle:
Patricia seems to think you are grossly overweight and are prone to ‘gas attacks’ that your poor wife has to endure. I don’t know you so I’m not sure Patricia is correct. On the off-chance that she is correct just remember this: As she is not the best looking girl around and you are not the slimmest man around this may seem to be a stalemate, but take comfort from the fact that you could go on a diet and loose the excess.
If you lose control your vehicles in the same way you lose control of yourselves on this comment page, you should be under arrest. I hope none of you burst a blood vessel in front of your laptops. Why haven,t I heard from you for hours? Did you run out of Diesel?. Tell Vardaker all about it if you did. As a pedestrian I have little sympathy for your problems. I am campaigning for prison sentences for motorists who kill people on the roads. It is murder. Now get a grip of your steering wheels and stop contaminating my space.
John Hag Meade. Your a great laugh. I get the impression your wife didn’t get enough botox injections. And you may need to visit the optician more often, so you’ll be able to see which end is up. Correct me if I’m wrong. Laughter all round.
@Patricia Ann McCarthy Moore:
Thank you for your comment. Regarding the visit to the optician, I notice that you misread my name so I suspect YOU may be the one needing the optician. In any case, thank you for your reply.
I don’t understand the botox thing. Perhaps you can explain it to me. My wife more than meets my expectations in every department but thanks for your concern.
It should be raised as should the minimum on motorways Having said that it won’t solve the problem of everyone jamming up the passing lane So many just don’t seem to get it or just get pig ignorant bout anyone overtaking them Oh love to know where thr guards were yesterday morning when I was confronted w a man on a sooki (sorry don’t know the spelling) only going bout 30 in the inside lane of N7 up to Newlands Cross So I’m all in favour but I reckon ill still only get to drive 50 at best any night up the N7!
I think it’s fast enough already and as for shortening journey times I think 50% of people break the speed limit on motorways anyway.
Yes and make the M1 3 lanes
100kmh on a 3 laned motor way is ridiculous, national roads are that speed limit for christ sake its not even a motor way its a national road
What does it matter when half the drivers on the road go 40 kmph under the current speed limit already?
It’s the fast lane and in some cases you have an under taking lane,simple
The Stillorgan dual carriageway is a case in point. The inside lane has become the overtaking lane because of all the right turns.
For your sake Patricia not mine!
Debating with you , is like arguing with a 2 year old!
The limits should be raised on motorways alright. 140kmh would be about right in my opinion but Im open to higher bids lol. Anyone that cant drive that fast need not do so but they should not impede the rest of us either.
There seems to be an “If I cant do it, then nobody else should be allowed to either”, mentality out there. These people have no right to decide how the rest of us drive.
Free public transport Patricia??? I suppose you want free water, housing, and subsidised food also. There should be NOTHING free for anyone. Then this country would prosper. The third generation dole addicts might feck off out of the country and leave it to those of us who are not afraid of work, not afraid of taxes, not afraid of paying our way for a better society. I am happy to pay €4 toll each day on my 130km round trip to work.
Speed limit on motorway should be maximum 180km/hr.
@Andrew Dagg:
“I am happy to pay €4 toll each day on my 130km round trip to work.”
While not wanting to insult you, ‘fools and their money are easily parted’. You probably grew up accepting to have to pay money out for ANYTHING related to motoring. We pay the highest motor tax, VRT (illegal under EU rules) and ridiculous parking charges with ‘no mercy’ shown if you are slightly late. I don’t remember a constitutional requirement that all drivers MUST have a ‘time piece’ of some sort and it MUST be accurate.
Who said no ? All you middle lane driver. RTFM
Very Good! I have to agree with him!
M50 should be 120kph not 100kph
Let’s be realistic.
It will not happen in near future.
Ireland is breaching its EU2020 CO2 emission targets again this year. Increasing speed limits will increase CO2 emissions even more. There is no point even trying unless somebody has a good, cost effective plan to compensate for the emission increase.
Increasing the speed limit leads to an increase of the country’s carbon emissions.
On most sections of motorway it is perfectly safe to drive at 150km/h assuming the conditions allow. Conditions that would reduce this speed are fog, icy roads, heavy rain and heavy traffic. If variable message signs were available then we could easily implement variable limits do away with the silly fixed limits.
Only on da major roads.
When we start teaching motorway driving as part of the driving test it’ll be a good day! How hard is it to use a two lane road like?!
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