Higher speed limit causing Laois drivers to be rear-ended

Laois drivers have been rear-ended at an Abbeyleix junction because the speed limit is too high on the Portlaoise side of the town.

So claimed Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Fianna Fáil, tabled a motion calling on Laois County Council to extend the speed limit on the Portlaoise road to include all houses up to the island land junction.

He said that there are some 53 houses located between Heritage House and the island land. Despite this, he said the speed limit was increased to 60km at the last review. 

“I am asking that the speed limit be reverted to 50km as soon as we can,” he said.

He said he had many calls from people being “rear-ended” at the junction because of speeding traffic.

Cllr Barry Walsh, Fine Gael, also called for change as did Cllr Willie Aird, Fine Gael.

The reply from James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer, explained why the speeds could not be changed without national sanction. 

“The Department of Transport advise that there is legislation due for changes to default speed limits. In parallel, the Department is to publish a National Speed Limit review guidance document. Pending publication of these documents, it is premature to commence a speed limit review, noting that individual speed limit zones cannot be revised in isolation,” he said.

The issue was raised at the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.