Eight out of ten motorists speeding, survey shows
Motorists in Galway appear to have made a mockery of ‘National Slow Down Day’, according to a speed survey carried out by a community activist.
Statistics compiled by COSAIN (Community Road Safety and Action Information Network) show that at least eight out of ten motorists broke the speed limit on Friday, May 31 at four locations on the west side of the city.
The results of the survey carried out by COSAIN were forwarded to City Councillors this week by Simon Comer member and founder of the group.
National Slow Down Day was described as a nationwide combined speed surveillance operation and awareness-raising initiative conducted by An Garda Síochána and GoSafe, in co-operation with other statutory bodies and government departments.
To coincide with the day, Mr Comer carried out speed surveys at four locations at Knocknacarra Road, Siobhán McKenna Road, Kingston Road and Bóthar Stiofáin. The roads all have 50 kilometre per hour limits.
COSAIN said these sites were chosen because of their high traffic volumes; prior indications of speed being a problem; extensive residential and commercial developments; the daily presence of pedestrians, cyclists and/or bus users; and the generally incomplete nature of the roads, such as the absence of continuous footpaths, traffic calming features or pedestrian-priority crossings. Speed was measured with a hand-held radar device, similar to a Garda’s ‘speed gun’.
COSAIN found that more than 8 out of 10 motorists observed in all four surveys were breaking the speed limit at least nominally – they were travelling at 51 km/h or faster.
A total of 255 motorists in COSAIN’s studies were observed to be speeding – driving at 60km/h or more in a 50km/h zone – which comprised 64% of the 400 vehicles surveyed across all four locations.
The rates of speeding in Galway were “100 times greater than the official detection rate on national primary and secondary roads” around the country as recorded by the Garda national operation, according to COSAIN.
Mr Comer has urged Galway City Council to reflect on the findings of the survey at the upcoming Transportation and Infrastructure SPC meeting scheduled for June 25.
He wants the Council to consider “what the implications are for public safety as well as public policy”.