CONFUSION REIGNS AS MOTORISTS SEE RED OVER SPEED LIMIT

Many motorists have been wrongly given penalty points for speeding on the old road between Fermoy and Watergrasshill. The issue emerged when it came to light that the Minister for Transport had signed a 100km speed limit order, but that the local authority had reduced the limit to 80km when the new toll road opened.

Many people who have received penalty points on the road have now queried the speed limit. The gardai confirmed that, while they are looking into the situation, the current speed limit stands for now anyway. A district court judge who said he could see no legislation in place to convict motorists threw out a number of speeding cases.

A local solicitor made a submission to a judge on behalf of a client, and highlighted the confusion about the speed limits on that particular road.

In 2006 the then Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, had signed an order placing a 100km/h limit on the road, following the opening of the tolled Fermoy bypass, Cork County Council reduced the speed limit on the old road between Fermoy and Watergrasshill to 80km/h.

The council claimed that a motorway order, signed by Mr Cullen, meant the old road reverted to “regional road status” when the Fermoy bypass was opened, and thus its speed limit had to be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h. The Department of Transport said on Monday night that it was up to Cork County Council to adhere to its legislation, which stated the road, should have a 100km/h limit.

It is anticipated the council will discuss the possibility of raising the speed limit over the next few weeks.

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