New speed limits In Trim would be ‘waste of time, effort, words’

Report Paul Murphy
The introduction of new national speed limits for built-up and urban areas would be a “waste of time, effort, words” unless proper Garda resources are put into enforcement, an Independent councillor told a meeting of Trim Municipal District. Noel French was speaking after an official delivered an update on proposed speed limits.
“Speed limits were reduced the year before last. Road deaths went up last year, not down. 30 speed limits were put in place – they (drivers) are not taking any notice of it. There simply isn’t enforcement of it. I’ve been 10 years on the Joint Policing Committee asking Gardai to enforce speed limits. They don’t simply have the resources. Speed cameras were proposed – they are not in the pipeline, they are not in the Programme for Government. It’s not going to happen”.

He said he agreed with a remark by Fine Gael Cllr Joe Fox that “they are speeding in every street in Trim”. Cars coming in the Athboy road and speeding was taking place past schools. He agreed with bringing in new speed limits. Speeding was the number one issue raised with him and he knew other councillors were getting the same message. He knew that only a small number of drivers were involved but the Gardai couldn’t be there all the time. The answer was more resources. Meath had the same number of road deaths for the last 10 years despite the amount of effort the county council was putting in.

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Coffey said councillors had been dealing with the issue “week in, week out”. Meath was a county where a lot of people passed through on their way to and from work and they were anxious to get home after a 9, 10, or 11-hour day. Speeding was part of that, he said.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Rona Moore said he thought the introduction of new speed limit was “well worthwhile”. The council itself had to do what it could do in order to help the situation. However, if there wasn’t proper enforcement then people were not going to bother complying. He agreed with the idea of fixed cameras as in the Australian example.