There are fears that persistent speeding in the Phoenix Park will cause an "inevitable tragedy" at its busiest thoroughfare.
Recent figures from a Freedom of Information request revealed almost all drivers at Chesterfield Avenue are breaking the 30 kilometre an hour speed limit that is in place in a certain section of the park. The area is close to Dublin Zoo which attracts many young children and families and has recorded the most frequent speeding offenders.
Green Party TD Patrick Costello said that the lack of law enforcement on this issue was worrying and could potentially spell disaster to the visitors of the largest city park in Europe.
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He said: “An Garda Síochana have a large headquarters in the park and should be liaising with the Office of Public Works to ensure it is a safe environment for all to enjoy. If this issue is continually ignored by both authorities, I am fearful of an inevitable tragedy taken place."
97 per cent of all drivers broke the speed limit on Chesterfield Avenue as revealed by speed surveys undertaken in the park. New speed limits, alongside added cycling infrastructure and a one way system, were introduced in the park last year to make the area more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians.
Some drivers complained about the new rules to the OPW, arguing that the speed limit was causing their vehicles to stall in the built up area of the park. Another message, which was forwarded by Leo Varadkar’s constituency office, revealed a driver’s concern that the 30 kilometres per hour rule was “putting a lot of pressure” on their car engine.
Minister for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’ Donovan officially approved the 30 km per hour limit on Chesterfield Avenue earlier this year. He said that the changes would not affect the access of road users to nearby institutions.
“The reduction of the speed limit from 50km/h to 30km/h should see a marked difference in driver behaviour, making the Park a safer place for all of us using it for recreational purposes,” the Minister added.
O’ Donovan also introduced a one way system on the North Road within the park. This was criticised after video footage emerged of a park ranger stopping a motorist who was driving in the wrong direction up the road.
A cyclist who captured the incident on film said it was “the first enforcement” he had seen of the new rules being implemented.
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