A nationwide observational free speed survey on Irish roads was conducted in 2008 by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Although speed is a demonstrated road collision causal factor, in 2008 the percentage of drivers exceeding speed limit ranged from 16% to 86% depending on the road type and posted speed limit. Furthermore the percentage of drivers found breaking the speed limit by 10 km/h of more ranged between 3% and 47%, depending on the road type. The survey found a significant improvement in the percentage of vehicles complying with speed limits on urban national and urban residential roads. However, overall driver compliance with speed limits on urban roads is still poor. On average, 3 out of 5 motorists exceeded the posted speed limit in urban areas. There was no significant change in the percentage of cars complying with speed limits on motorways, national primary and regional roads in 2008, with the percentage of free-speeding cars breaking the posted limit on motorways rising marginally from 14% in 2007 to 15% in 2008, decreasing from 20% to 19% on national primary roads, and remaining at 34% on regional roads in 2008 (same as 2007). Average car free speed was 107km/h on motorways, 96km/h on dual carriageways, 91km/h on two-lane national primaries, 81km/h on two-lane national secondary roads, 76km/h on regional roads and 69km/h on local roads. The proportion of cars exceeding the speed limit on urban national roads (in 50km/h zones) fell from 86% in 2007 to 78% in 2008. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of cars exceeding the 50km/h speed limit in urban residential areas, dropping from 23% in 2007 to 4% in 2008. The proportion of articulated vehicles and rigid trucks violating vehicle specific speed limits has increased on motorways, dual carriageway, national primary and national secondary roads but has decreased on regional and local roads in 2008. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting