Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to revert to the speed limits for a moment. Statistics show that many serious and fatal accidents happen on local roads. An elected representative cannot go up a local road without every second person asking them what can be done to slow down cars on the road. The speed that people drive on local roads is absolutely frightening. It is also the case on regional roads but it is particularly an issue on local roads. I do not have the answer to this with regard to enforcement. It comes up at joint policing committee meetings. There are no speed checks on these roads and people know that. The people who drive like lunatics on them at times are not from outer space. Some of them are local people who live two miles up the road and are in a hurry going to or from school. Politicians, including councillors and TDs, have been out and about a lot in recent months. I have driven in England. I have a HGV licence and I have driven in cities. I thought I had seen everything but in recent months I have seen things on local roads that are incredible. Is this getting a particular focus? What can be done? We will not have gardaí on them. We will not have speed cameras on all of them, although councils have put them at some entries to towns and villages. What can be done to address this?