Parsley welcomes Minister's line on speed enforcement on "lesser roads"

11.16.55am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 18th Aug 2006

North Down Councillor, Ian James Parsley

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has welcomed a Government Minister's commitment to ensuring speed enforcement will be focused on rural roads rather than motorways - it is only unfortunate the reference was not to Northern Ireland!

The Republic's Transport Minister Martin Cullen made the call at the opening of the Naas Bypass.

Cllr Parsley stated: "I strongly welcome the recognition by a Government Minister that speed enforcement must be focused on lesser roads. I trust that a similar recognition will follow in Northern Ireland.

"Only yesterday a police speed trap had been placed on the Bangor Ring Road, a road with an excellent safety record. There is no excuse whatsoever for excess speed, but drivers are right to question the motive behind such speed traps, particularly when they are 'conveniently' placed just over the brow of a hill.

"I will be seeking a commitment from the Minister of the Environment that speed enforcement must be focused on rural single carriageways where the vast, vast majority of casualties occur. The instruction that Minister Cullen passed on to the head of the Garda Siochana Noel Conroy must also be passed on by Minister Cairns to Sir Hugh Orde."

ENDS