S.I. No. 9/2005 - Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits - Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2005

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.