€100k cost for flashing speed signs in south Cavan

It would cost at least €100,000 to install a flashing speed sign on approach roads to every town and village in the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District.

Cllr Winston Bennett (FG) raised the issue at the area’s monthly meeting and called for funding to be sought to replace all speed limit signs with flashing signs.

They’re already a familiar sight in some towns, particularly at schools, and flash the speed as a vehicle approaches.

Cllr Bennett told the meeting that “many drivers don’t notice speed signs” but “people always brake when they see the flashing signs”.

He claimed the signs are better than ramps at slowing traffic.

Area engineer John McGahern said a “basic estimate of the cost for one sign on each approach road would be well in excess of €100,000”.

He said the area receives a discretionary grant, which can be used for a range of works but this is currently used to supplement the road works programme. Mr McGahern said using funding from this grant would “severely hit” the funding available for other works. He also claimed that, by increasing the number of flashing signs, they could become so commonplace that drivers fail to notice those in turn.

Mr McGahern told councillors of a conversation with a local school principal in the MD area who “didn’t realise there were flashing lights on both sides of the school”.

Councillors were in agreement that something has to be done to tackle speeding on the region’s roads. Cllr TP O’Reilly (FG) said the approach on the Dublin side of Virginia in particular needs to be tackled.

He said speed vans have slowed traffic down and are proven to have worked. Mr McGahern agreed saying “it might not be popular to say but it is the case”.

Cathaoirleach of the MD Trevor Smith (FG) said a larger Garda presence is needed on roads in the area.