Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae has claimed proposals for a reduced 30km/h speed limit in urban areas would be a case of the State “trying to get as much money as they can from hard-pressed motorists”.
The move is being considered as part of a new road safety strategy that aims to reduce road deaths by half over the next decade.
30km/h limits have already been introduced in a number of areas in Dublin.
However, the RSA and the Government is now considering making that the ‘default’ speed limit in other urban areas as well.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said that and a range of other proposals are part of the goal to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by half over the next decade.
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent TD for Kerry, told Newstalk Breakfast he believes fines for breaking lower speed limits would be another burden on motorists.
He said: “We are all very, very interested in the safety of people using our roads - we want to minimise the amount of accidents.
“But what I have seen happening increasingly… is now road safety is being replaced by monetary issues. In other words, it’s the State trying to not be involved in road safety, but being involved in trying to get as much money as they can from hard-pressed motorists.”
He said the cost of driving and owning a car has gone up “enormously”, and the Government is trying “to nail [motorists] for every other penny they can".
He argued that the current rules and regulations are “enough”, and also said he wants to see a “complete overhaul” of the RSA.
However, Ciarán Cuffe, Green MEP for Dublin, said he thinks Deputy Healy-Rae is wrong about this issue.
He said: “The RSA, which has made this recommendation, doesn’t get the money.
“I think it’s about saving lives, and reducing the amount of serious injuries that happen on our roads. It’s also about trying to make our towns and villages safer and nicer places to be.
“There’ll be less noise, an increase in safety levels. It will allow parents to walk their children to school, and make it easier for older people to get around.”
Mr Cuffe said measures like this are now the “way the world is going” - noting the European Commission is publishing a strategy that also recommends 30km/h ‘as the default’ for urban areas.
He suggested measures such as lower speed limits are needed “to reduce the carnage on our roads.”
