08 Feabhra 2010
Torthaí Measctha Léirithe ag Suirbhé ar Luas Feithiclí
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) today 8th February 2010 issued the results of their ‘Free Speed’ Survey for 2008. The survey, conducted in 2008, monitored the free speed of cars, articulated vehicles, rigid vehicles and buses to determine the level of compliance among road-users of speed limits.
Mr Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority said: “In general, the results of the report are mixed. There was a general decrease in the number of vehicles complying with speed limits but on an encouraging note, the average free speed of cars was below the speed limit on all rural road types which are typically high risk locations for collisions. In fact, just 1 in 5 cars were found speeding on rural roads. However, the number of cars speeding on dual-carriageways and national secondary roads has increased since we conducted the survey in 2007.”
The report also found that two-thirds of articulated vehicles were speeding. However, the percentage of such vehicles speeding on regional roads has decreased.
“The fact is, any amount of speed in excess of the limit has the potential to cause collisions. Up to 3 out of 10 road deaths are caused by inappropriate speed. A vehicle driven at any speed can be lethal so I would ask every road-user to slow down and be aware of the consequences of speeding,” Mr Brett concluded.
The findings of the survey also points to low levels of compliance among vehicles across all road types. Compliance with speed limits has reduced for all vehicles on both urban and rural road types since the survey was last conducted in 2007. The most significant reduction in compliance is seen among drivers of articulated vehicles on urban roads, from 65% compliance in 2007 to 30% in 2008. Articulated vehicles account for less than 1% of the total vehicle fleet. Drivers of cars fared slightly better with a reduction from 61% in 2007 to 46% in 2008 in compliance on urban roads, with no change in compliance levels recorded on rural roads (77% in 2007 and 2008). However, cars make up 77% of the total vehicle fleet with almost two million registered in Ireland.
11,935 cars were monitored during the Free Speed Survey 2008 and the results showed that the average free speed of cars was below the speed limit on all rural road types with just 1 in 5 cars on rural roads found to be speeding. On regional roads, over 3 out of 5 car drivers travelled at speeds lower than the posted speed limit with 4 out of 5 car drivers travelling at less than the speed limit on local roads. The report also found that the number of cars complying with the speed limit on dual carriageways and national secondary roads has decreased since the 2007 survey. However, the number of cars complying with the speed limit on motorways, dual carriageways, national primary and national secondary roads has increased since 1999. 61% of all cars surveyed on urban roads were speeding.
1,296 articulated vehicles were also monitored during the Free Speed Survey to determine their compliance levels with the posted speed limits on different road types. With just over 11,000 articulated vehicles registered at the end of 2008, these vehicles represent less than 1% of the total vehicle fleet and are subject to a maximum speed of 80km/h. The report found that 65% of articulated vehicles observed on rural roads were speeding. There was also an increase from 25% in 2007 to 49% in 2008 in the number of articulated vehicles exceeding the speeding limit on two lane secondary roads. However, on regional roads, speeds for articulated vehicles have reduced.
3,108 rigid vehicles were also observed for levels of compliance with speed limits. 54% of all rigid vehicles on rural roads were speeding. Rigid vehicles are subject to an 80km/h vehicle specific speed limit on rural roads. The 2008 survey saw an increase in speed violations for rigid trucks on all roads except regional and local roads where there was a significant improvement in speed compliance. However, on urban national roads where a 50km/h speed limit applies, 3 out of 5 rigid vehicles were observed speeding. The findings in relation to buses pointed at increased speeds depending on the quality of the road. For example, on primary roads, the average free speed was above the vehicle specific speed limit of 80km/h but on secondary roads, the speeds were lower.
Read the Free Speed Survey 2008(PDF)
For further information:
Road Safety Authority Communications Office: 096 25008 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 096 25008 end_of_the_skype_highlighting