Speed Limit Appeals Procedure
A Speed Limit Appeals Procedure was recently introduced which allows members of the public to object and appeal existing speed limits contained within a Local Authority’s current Speed Limit Bye-laws.
A Speed Limit Appeals Procedure was recently introduced which allows members of the public to object and appeal existing speed limits contained within a Local Authority’s current Speed Limit Bye-laws. This new process will highlight certain speed limits which are considered inappropriate and require investigation.
The Speed Limits Appeals Procedure is intended to facilitate a legitimate query a member of the public or interested party may have regarding a particular speed limit. It is also intended to speed up the process of reviewing speed limit queries raised between full Local Authority speed limit reviews which are normally carried out every five years.
The process includes an initial appeal application to the relevant Local Authority Panel who will review the application (at no cost) followed by an escalation of the appeal to an Independent Regional Panel (administration fee of €125), should the applicant not accept the decision of the Local Authority Panel.
All speed limit appeals will be reviewed in accordance with the Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland (Speed Limit Guidelines). If a speed limit is deemed to not be set in accordance with the Speed Limit Guidelines, the Local Authority will notify the applicant and begin the process of rectifying the speed limit. The statutory power to adopt speed limit bye-laws will remain with the Elected Members of Local Authorities on roads in their administrative area.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD said: “The Programme for Government committed to reviewing and reducing speed limits with a view to addressing both road safety issues and carbon emissions and ensuring greater compliance. This process will highlight speed limits that are deemed inappropriate, and which require further investigation. It is important to note however that this is not a mechanism for appealing penalties issued for speeding offences.”
The Speed Limit Appeal Process and further information is available at www.speedlimits.ie/appeals