Written answers
Tuesday, 15 February 2005
Department of Transport
Road Safety
9:00 pm
Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Transport if he plans to conduct a review of speed limits for large vehicles following the recent spate of deaths in lorry accidents; the reason larger vehicles were excluded from the speed limit changes introduced under the conversion to the metric system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4763/05]
Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits — Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2005, SI 9 of 2005, made by me on 12 January 2005 prescribe maximum speed limits for certain classes of vehicles from 20 January 2005. The speed limit of 80 km/h limit has been prescribed for vehicles that have accommodation for more than eight passengers, for goods vehicles having a design gross weight in excess of 3,500 kg. and for any vehicle towing a trailer, caravan, horse box, etc. A speed limit of 65 km/h has been prescribed for double deck passenger vehicles.
In setting the new metric speed limits for these classes of vehicles I made no change to the speed limit policy that had applied since 1992 other than converting the previous maximum limits to the nearest equivalent metric value.
I made it clear, however, when I announced the vehicle speed limits concerned on 17 January last that I intend to revisit the matter of maximum speed limits for classes of vehicles later in the year. This will be done in consultation with the relevant interest groups.
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