STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 9 of 2005 .

ROAD TRAFFIC (ORDINARY SPEED LIMITS - CERTAIN VEHICLES) REGULATIONS 2005.

S.I. No. 9 of 2005 .

ROAD TRAFFIC (ORDINARY SPEED LIMITS -- CERTAIN VEHICLES) REGULATIONS 2005.

I, MARTIN CULLEN, Minister for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 3 and 4 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 (No. 44 of 2004), hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits -- Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2005.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 20 January 2005.

2. In these Regulations--

“design gross vehicle weight” has the meaning assigned to it in the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999 ( S.I. No. 352 of 1999 );

“passenger accommodation” means seating passenger accommodation determined in accordance with the Road Traffic (Passenger Accommodation of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Regulations 1962 ( S.I. No. 143 of 1962 ).

3. The ordinary speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour is prescribed for--

(a)  a  single decked mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adopted primarily for the carriage of passengers which has passenger accommodation for more than 8 persons,

(b)  a  mechanically propelled vehicle neither intended nor adapted primarily for the carriage of passengers which has a design gross vehicle weight in excess of 3,500 kilograms, and

(c)  a combination of a mechanically propelled vehicle drawing another vehicle.

4. The ordinary speed limit of 65 kilometres per hour is prescribed for a double-deck mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted primarily for the carriage of passengers and having passenger accommodation for more than 8 passengers.

5. A speed limit prescribed in these Regulations does not apply in respect of any road where a lesser speed limit having effect under Part 2 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 (No. 44 of 2004) applies.

6. The Road Traffic (General and Ordinary Speed Limits) Regulations ( S.I. No. 194 of 1992 ) are revoked.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations prescribe the maximum ordinary speed limit at which specified classes of vehicles can be driven except where a lower maximum road speed limit applies. With effect from 20 January 2005:

--  a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour applies to a vehicle that accommodates more than 8 passengers, excluding the driver (e.g. bus/coach/minibus), to a goods vehicle that has a design gross weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms and to any vehicle towing a trailer, caravan, horsebox, etc, and,

--  a speed limit of 65 kilometres per hour applies to a double deck bus/coach.