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***ttwebsite*** · 20-01-2006, 10:54 AM

As reported on IOMonline

A MAXIMUM speed limit could reduce the number of accidents in the Island, according to the Transport Minister.
In Tynwald on Tuesday night Phil Braidwood said his department will consult the public on whether an Island-wide maximum speed limit of 60mph in most areas should be enforced or whether that speed limit should be lower or no overall speed limit should apply.

If supported, the move could see rural roads restricted to 60mph and the Snaefell Mountain Road to 70mph with an extension of enforcement measures, including mobile speed cameras.

Mr Braidwood said: 'We have evidence that a small number of motorists continue to drive at unacceptably high speeds on roads not restricted by speed limits.

'As a result, the number of fatal and serious injury road traffic accidents continues to increase.

'Introducing a maximum speed limit must assist in reducing these unacceptable figures.'

Mr Braidwood said road traffic accidents on derestricted roads have continued to increase since 2003, in which there were seven fatalities compared with nine in last year.

He added the worst accident locations are on the Mountain Road, with over 40 per cent of the total number of accidents, of which between 60 and 90 per cent were speed-related.

To tackle the problem the department plans to introduce speed cameras to help the police enforce speed limits, introduce lower speed limits in accident hotspots, promote legislation to increase the driving age for young drivers and extend the period to two years for displaying R plates.

The issue was met by controversy when it was raised by former Transport Minister John Shimmin in 2004.

The department received 408 letters, with 281 firmly against it and a petition was mounted on a website with 3,100 signatures, of which 1,325 were Manx residents.

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