I haven't been following this thread, but may be interesting to someone... -----------------------------------------------
2003 Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd. Belfast Telegraph October 10, 2003 LENGTH: 298 words HEADLINE: M-way speed limit to rise in Republic BYLINE: By Ben [EMAIL PROTECTED] BODY: DRIVERS from Belfast to Dublin will be able to reach their destination more quickly, under plans to increase the motorway speed limit in the Republic. The proposals to increase the limit from 70mph to 74.56mph (120kmh) are likely to become law late next year. The suggested new maximum speeds are part of a plan to make limits in the Republic more consistent, as well as fulfilling a government commitment to convert to metric measurements by 2005. The speed limit on many other types of road will drop in a bid to cut accidents. The new motorway limits will make it possible to drive the 72km distance of the M1 motorway, from Dundalk to the outskirts of Dublin, in 36 minutes. Travelling times will drop further when the Dundalk motorway bypass is completed in 2006, and the Dundalk to Newry dual carriageway built about a year later. By then it should be possible to drive the 90km from the border to Dublin Airport in about 45 minutes - a journey which currently takes more than an hour. Speed and distance signs in the Republic are confusing at present, with road distances shown in kilometres and speed limits shown in mph. A working group, commissioned by the government, recommended that limits on some roads drop to 18.6mph (30kmh). The limit on many back country roads will also be cut, to 49.7mph (80kph). Under the proposals, the speed limit on primary roads, such as dual carriageways and major single carriageway routes, will be rounded up from 60mph to their nearest metric equivalent of 100kmh, a slight rise to 62.1 mph. Current roadside speed signs will be replaced with versions containing the new restrictions. The speed limit on UK motorways is 70mph. The Conservative Party has pledged to increase it to 80mph. ----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Han Maenen Sent: Monday, 2003 October 13 14:08 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:27169] Irish speedlimits I have been following the Letters to the Editor pages in the Irish Times, but no one has sent a letter about road metrication. I am certain that if this decision had been made in Britain, many pro and contra metric people would have reacted. That is what the IAML says: "Forced metrication is unnecessary, unwanted and undemocratic. Our traditional measurements are well understood and perfectly appropriate for day-to-day life. They do not need to be replaced in shops, on road signs etc. Indeed, in so doing, our government is effectively cutting a vast proportion of our population off from any real understanding of measurement. Disenfranchising them from their right to measure. Most people do not want the metric system. Take a survey yourself on the street. You'll see what we mean. Worst of all, metrication has been foisted on us with out the opinion of the Irish people being asked. In our country, where in recent history, we have had to fight to be heard, this is blatant arrogance on behalf of the government and shameful complacency on behalf of the people at large. For more information, contact us at our e-mail address below." The URL is http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/iaml/ e-mail address IAML: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Han Historian of Dutch Metrication, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
