We oppose a speed limit increase in the town of Mountmellick

We oppose the speed limit increase on N80 coming into Mountmellick. The TII, the State agency responsible for national roads, has recommended that the speed limit coming into Mountmellick from Portlaoise, will decrease from 100km/h to 80km/h to 60km/h, only slowing down to 50km/h at the fire station. This means that up until the fire station on the N80, vehicles travelling along this road will be allowed to travel 20 percent faster than the existing speed limit of 50km/h.  

As previous research has shown on the effects of speeding, for every 5 percent increase in speed, the chances of causing a death goes up by 20 percent.

  “The consequences are even more serious for pedestrians. If they are hit by a car travelling at 30km/h 5% will die, at 50km/h, the number rises to 45% and at 65km/hr just 15% can expect to survive.”                                                          

Ann Cahill, Irish Examiner, Friday, April 25, 2008    

This proposal is a part of the nationwide Speed Limit Review, but it cannot come into affect if the town council are in opposition. During either July or August of this year, there will be a 30 day public consultation period, where the local authority will need to take into account the public’s opinion before deciding whether to agree or disagree with the TII.  

There are a number of factors to consider on the N80 driving towards the fire station, where it is imperative that vehicles slow down to 50km/h. There is a garden centre with parking roadside, a filling station, a stud farm – where horses are being led across the N80 into a field, a housing estate, a turn off to the local hospital, a recreational park, the MDA, which includes a restaurant, and a day crèche, a national school, a fire station, housing, and pavements that are constantly used. The list goes on. In short, there are children, families, and businesses, right on the roadside, and they need protecting from vehicles travelling at any speed greater than 50km/h.   It is in our opinion, as people who live and work in Mountmellick, that this stretch of the N80 going as far as the fire station must retain its speed limit of 50km/h.  

Please sign your name in support.