Aggression on roads added to by increased cocaine use says Mayo councillor

BYLAWS that will see five routes in Mayo remain at 80kph when a default 60kph speed limit comes into effect on local roads in February have been adopted by councillors after much debate.

That is subject to a review of the default limit as some members feel there are other local roads in the county where an 80kph limit could still be applied.

The adoption was described as a rubber stamping exercise where councillors really had no say. Reject them and the five roads earmarked to stay as 80kph zones would have joined all the others that are dropping down to 60 early next month.

The new limits being introduced nationally in a bid to address road safety have been extensively debated by councillors in Mayo, with some pushing back, saying the wider picture of road safety - enforcement, driver behaviour and infrastructure improvement - needs to be looked at too.

Aggression on the roads was also raised, with Councillor Harry Barrett saying cocaine use is impacting this.

Councillor Damian Ryan said elected members had no input into making amendments and they were being asked to just rubber stamp this.

They were being asked to make a decision in a vacuum, in a top down approach, and his sole proposal was that the document be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

This was an erosion of their powers and democracy and it 'stinks to high heaven,' he commented.

The difficulty in getting speed ramps was referred to by Councillor Gerry Coyle, who pointed out how a few speed bumps would slow people down.

Councillor Patsy O'Brien didn't support the new speed limits, saying they should be 'reviewed and renewed', pointing to four roads in his area and up to 25 across the county where it was necessary to leave them at 80kph.

The cut to 60kph would cause accidents, Councillor Johnny O'Malley felt, with motorists overtaking where they come behind three or four vehicles in a line.

If they wanted to save lives on the roads, then address issues with overhanging trees and bushes, take out dangerous corners, and deal with telecom wires which are nearly down and getting caught on trucks, he said.

Rubber stamping was effectively being forced on them, said Councillor Peter Flynn.

He proposed they adopt the bylaws - agreeing to a review - or else the exempted routes would no longer be exempt, and that would be a foolish manoeuvre on their behalf.

The majority of local roads are not fit for 80kph, he added, while also highlighting aggression on the roads. This aggression, Councillor Harry Barrett felt, was being added to by cocaine use.

Councillor Barrett said they have to end the trauma of road fatalities and the experts say they have to reduce speed. However, enforcement is another issue and we need to see an increase in garda numbers.