Common sense is required

SIR,  — In last week’s Recorder there were a few articles relating to traffic calming and speed limits in our
district.

Minister Hazzard quite rightly pointed out that the onus should be on all motorists to drive at all times with due care and consider the road conditions at the time. I know that speed limit signs do not guarantee that all motorists will observe them, but it is a start.

However, speaking from experience, I have found it extremely difficult to convince Transport NI to erect speed limit signs in Kilclief, something that the residents campaigned for over an eight-year period.

Eventually the signs were erected, but Transport NI seems to want accident statistics before they will consider the request. This is always one of the first criteria Transport NI asks for in dealing with requests for speed limits.

Surely what is being sought in all requests for any form of traffic calming is accident prevention. A bit of common sense would go a long way.

To quote Transport NI’s own policy on villages: “Fear of traffic can affect people’s quality of life in villages and it is self-evident that villages should have comparable speed limits to similar roads in urban areas. It is therefore Government Policy that, where appropriate, a 30mph speed limit should be the norm in villages.” I would like to encourage any village seeking speed limits to emphasise this norm and to pursue the matter persistently with Transport NI and to make them look at each situation on its own merits rather than quoting regulations and policies.

It appears to me that not all situations are treated equally because I am aware of some places that have received 30mph signs when there were fewer houses that required in Transport NI’s policy.

In cases like this it makes you wonder if someone with influence was able to sway the decision.

Yours etc,

MAURICE DENVIR,

Chairman Kilclief,

Residents Association.