Local Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon has described the results of a speed survey in Craughwell village as a shocking example of a national speeding crisis and has urged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar immediately engage with the Gardai, the Road Safety Authority, and the Minister for Transport in an effort to tackle speeding head on and ensure the safety of vulnerable road users.
In late June Galway Co. Council completed a traffic speed survey at the entrance to Craughwell village and presented the results last week to Deputy Cannon who sought the survey. The survey measured the speed of 45,000 vehicles entering Craughwell from the Loughrea side and concluded that 84% of vehicles exceeded the statutory posted speed limit of 60km/h. The average speed recorded was 88kmh, with a maximum recorded speed of 159kmh.
“The fact that the majority of drivers are travelling at almost 90 kilometres per hour as they enter Craughwell village is truly shocking,” said Deputy Cannon.
“Over eight out of ten drivers are completely ignoring the sixty kilometre per hour speed limit. Many residents in the village have long made the case that motorists are travelling at speed in the village, far in excess of what’s permissible, and this reliable data from Galway Co. Council proves conclusively that they’re right.
“The Craughwell example is also reflective of a major issue nationally, where we have less than satisfactory enforcement of speed limits, and an unwillingness to deliver effective traffic calming measures at the entrances to our towns and villages. That’s why I raised this issue with the Taoiseach in the Dail on Wednesday”, said Deputy Cannon.
“So far this year 92 people have been killed on our roads, including 22 pedestrians and cyclists. That’s a terrible indictment of us as a country, yet these tragic losses are almost dismissed as collateral damage, something we should deem acceptable so that we can facilitate people driving at speed,” he added.
“Ireland has the highest rate of child pedestrian fatalities in the EU. When a motorist hits a pedestrian or cyclist at 40 km/h, those vulnerable road users have a 60% chance of living. At 60kmh, their chances reduce to 10%, at 80kmh they have zero chance of survival, they lose their life. We cannot continue to stand over a situation where people’s lives are put at huge risk when they’re simply walking or cycling in their own neighbourhood.
He said he has asked An Taoiseach to immediately engage with An Gardai Siochana, the Road Safety Authority and the Department of Transport to request a serious step change in the enforcement of speed limits and the prioritisation of traffic calming infrastructure in our towns and villages.
“I’m very grateful to Galway Co. Council for their work in carrying out this traffic survey. They have passed on the results to our local Gardai, seeking increased enforcement of the existing speed limits in Craughwell. Council engineers are also seeking funding to introduce a reduced carriageway width through the introduction of a gateway or perhaps a dedicated cycle/pedestrian lane. I will be supporting our local authority in securing this funding and getting these works done as quickly as possible”, concluded Deputy Cannon.
