Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley has raised the need for Road Safety measures on the N80 in Arles and Mountmellick and also called for proper 60km signs on rural roads in Laois.
Addressing the Dail, the Deputy said, “Traffic volumes are up, speeds are up, and mobile phone use is up. I want to highlight the N80 that goes through Laois.
“Safety measures are needed in the village of Arles, which local councillors and local people have been years looking for.
“I handed in petitions to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Laois County Council demanding that traffic calming measure be put at each end of the village and that it be made safer for pedestrians with a pedestrian crossing, proper footpaths and improved signage.”
Laois County Council had made a submission to TII long ago, but it still hasn’t been funded.
“Drinagh, which is in the Mountmellick area, is on the N80 and also needs some traffic calming measures where traffic is coming from the west and into Mountmellick town,” added Stanley.
The Deputy continued by voicing that “I want to raise the issue of local roads.
“We reduced the speed limit on local roads to 60 km/h, and this is a bone of contention for me.
“In my naivety, I thought we would see 80 km/h signs being removed and being replaced with 60 km/h signs all over the country.
“However, we got a white sign with lines across it. I asked a number of TDs if they knew what the sign means and none of them did.
“We are the people who made the laws. Those signs are ineffective and need to be changed.
“We need a 60 km/h sign. Stripped lines across a white background do not tell people anything. The speeds on local roads in Laois are crazy.”
The Deputy had also raised the issue of e-bikes at the Dáil, saying that there should be more regulations surrounding them.
“I am in favour of e-bikes but now some of them are higher powered than motorbikes.
“People can now have an e-bike that can do 70 km/h and 80 km/h.
“One passed me the other day and I was doing 65 km/h.
“He flew passed me on an e-bike that had tires the width of a good motorbike.
“People who drive them need to be licensed, taxed and insured. I also support the legislation on scrambler bikes.” the TD concluded.
