Parsley calls for 60 mph abolition

3.00.00pm GMT Mon 26th Dec 2005

Young Alliance Chair, Cllr Ian James Parsley, has called for a reduction of the 60 mph national speed limit on single carriageways and more robust enforcement of speed limits on rural roads. His calls come after further lives were lost on Northern Ireland's roads over the Christmas period, including two on Christmas Day itself.

Cllr Parsley stated: "How many more tragic Christmases must families in Northern Ireland go through before we wise up to the danger on our roads? My heart goes out to those many families who have lost loved ones needlessly over the holiday period.

"The road fatality rate, particularly at this time of year, is not something we simply have to live with. We can and must do something about it.

"The common factor in most road casualties is that they occur on rural single carriageways, most often those where the official speed limit is 60 mph. This is far too high.

"The Irish Republic made a step in the right direction early this year by reducing this limit effectively to 50 mph (80 kmh). Even this has made little difference because this limit is not properly enforced.

"Drivers across Northern Ireland will be familiar with the speed camera signs and with police speed traps. However, when is the last time we saw any of these on a rural single carriageway? Yet that is where the vast majority of fatal incidents occur.

"Enforcement is the key to making sure traffic proceeds at safe speeds, particularly on icy roads or when there is fog. Therefore I am calling not only for a reduction of the limit on secondary single carriageways to 50 mph, but for proper enforcement of this limit specifically on secondary routes in rural locations.

"No more can we afford to take the easy way out of restricting speed on our best roads. We need proper limits and proper enforcement where it really matters. Otherwise the toll in human lives will remain far higher than we should be prepared to accept."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Cllr Parsley is a member of both Holywood and Bangor Road Safety Committees.

• The specific call is for a reduction in the speed limit on secondary routes (i.e. all B-roads and A-roads with white, rather than green, directional signs). In the Irish Republic, the limit on these roads is 80 kmh (compared to 100 kmh/62 mph on primary routes).