Laois Councillor suggests colour coded roads to indicate different speed zones

Modern cars are indicating an incorrect speed limit at a Laois village, a Council meeting has heard. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan asked “That Laois County Council make Mayo Village on the R431 in Crettyard safe. The traffic is not obeying the radar signals.”

In a written response, Roads Design stated that: “Road Design will arrange a site meeting with Cllr Brennan and assess the location from a safety perspective. Road Design have liaised with the contractor and both speed radar signs are operational. All potential measures will be assessed. Speeding at this area is a matter for An Garda Siochana.” 

Cllr Brennan said there was an 80km sign near the school which is now gone in the 50kph zone. However, he said, “the sign is gone now but it is still registering in new cars” which he said was “ridiculous”. 

“They think they are entitled to do 80kms per hour because 80kms per hour is registered on the car,” he explained. 

Senior Executive Engineer Tom Drennan said that while the speed limit in Mayo Village was 50km, the default limit on the R431 road was 80kph. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said she wanted to support the motion. She said “there is no joined up thinking” between Google Maps and the roads. She suggested colouring the roads for different speed limits to act as a visual indicator to people. “Money shouldn’t come into this, this is about saving lives,” she remarked. 

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.