Proposed new speed limits for Galway City will come before the City Council on January 9 — after the councillors modify and approve the proposal at that meeting, it will go for public consultation. The set of changes to be considered includes a 30kph zone for the city centre.
Several increases are also being considered. The last review in 2020 was not passed by councillors, but a number of the more controversial proposals from 2020 are not being put forward this time.
Cllr. Niall Murphy is pleased with that change.
“Increases like 80kph limits on Rahoon Road, Cappagh Road and Letteragh Road which were proposed last time have been dropped. “For this reason I am delighted that councillors stood firm on that occasion and did not allow these dangerous changes,” he said.
“I welcome the badly needed 30kph zone for the city centre. But the new proposal still has a number of increases. Councillors regularly get representations from people who feel that they were unfairly ticketed.
“But it is not just drivers who are impacted by speed limit changes. A pedestrian hit by a car doing 50kph has a 25% chance of being killed. This rises to 50% if the car is doing 60kph. Do we really want to accept that risk in exchange for saving a few seconds on a car journey, “ added Cllr Murphy.
“The Moycullen Road, for example has entrances to homes, businesses and a church. Speeding is endemic there, and raising the limit from 50kph to 60kph will embolden drivers who instead of exceeding 50kph will start to exceed 60kph. We have received no assurances that the new limits will be accompanied by more enforcement.
“Similarly the Tuam Road will go from 50kph to 100kph in some parts making it difficult for residents to leave their homes and join in the flow of fast moving traffic. I will be seeking assurances that if these increases go ahead then no further home entrances will be allowed on roads with a 100kph limit.
“The changes will go to public consultation, but while that process will help inform the public, the only acceptable submission will be objections to the overall scheme. There will be no scope for meaningful modifications to the proposed limits. Whatever councillors have agreed at the end of the meeting on Monday January 9 is very likely to be the limit that will become law after the consultation,” he said..
