Councillor John Dolan is calling for a reduction in the speed limits in residential areas. Speaking at last week’s September meeting of Athlone Municipal District, Fine Gael councillor said that a change of the council bylaws to allow for 30km/h speed limits in all estates and residential areas that lie inside a 50km/h zone was essential for the safety of pedestrians.
“Some local authorities have already come on board with this initiative,” he added.
Cllr Dolan made the motion after hearing of a Kilkenny woman’s campaign to lower speeds in residential areas after her son was hit by a car and killed. Rosaleen Brennan started the Jake Legacy Campaign which aims to reduce the speed limit in estates to 20km/h and have more speed ramps in built up areas.
Director of services Barry Kehoe said that the council had just changed speed limits before the summer - but that a reduction to 30km/h was a good idea. He added that proper design to reduce forward sight was also important in estates and residential areas to slow drivers down.
He advised that the council look at setting new speed limits.
