County Councillors have called for fines to be imposed on those caught speeding near The Rock NS.
Following motions from Cllrs Noel Tuohy, Caroline Dwane-Stanley, Catherine Fitzgerald and Mary Sweeney, the Council has begun the installation of Periodic Speed Signs on the R422 in the vicinity of The Rock NS.
Engineer Farhan Nasiem said: “It is expected that the signs will be commissioned and made operational within the next two weeks.
“The Periodic Speed Signs will impose a 30km/ph speed limit on this section of road at the times for drop off and collection of children.”
The measure has been welcomed by all the Cllrs present at yesterday’s Portlaoise Municipal District meeting.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald told how trucks often speed around there so fast that they would ‘almost blow you away’.
She called on the Gardaí to enforce the new speed limit and issue fines to anyone caught breaking it.
She said: “What really brought this to light again was when people were absolutely terrified after that big lorry overturned.
“The frightening thing was if there had been children around, god knows what would have happened. And thank God it wasn’t during school hours.
“But once this limit is in, it has to be policed. People will have to be fined if they go over that limit.
“The lorrys are entitled to use the road but if you were standing there when one went past, you would actually be shaking.
“With the speed they go by at and the vibrations off of them, it is very scary.
“So I think we should write to the Gardaí and tell them that this has been put in place and we would appreciate their assistance.
“It is essential that it is policed because that is the only thing that will slow them down.”
Director of Services Kieran Kehoe confirmed that a letter would be sent.
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