One year on since the introduction of metric speed limits, nearly one in three motorists did not know that 50 km/h is the speed limit within towns or cities, and 80 km/h is the limit on regional or local roads, according to a survey by the RAC.
The sample survey of 100 motorists this week found that 10 per cent of respondents believed the speed limit within towns and cities was 80 km/h. Motorists were asked to state the speed limit on motorways; roads within towns/cities; and regional/roads.
The sample group was then asked to convert three commonly seen speed limit signs to mph: 60 km/h; 80 km/h; and 120 km/h. The correct answers were respectively: 37 mph; 50 mph and 75 mph.
Five per cent of respondents incorrectly answered the 60 km/h question and 8 per cent were incorrect with the 80 km/h question. While nearly one in five - 19 per cent - got the 120 km/h conversion wrong, the vast majority of the wrong respondents incorrectly answered 70 mph.
The survey was carried out to coincide with the first anniversary of the introduction of metric speed limits on January 20th. According to Ailbhe Sharp, manager of the RAC School of Motoring: "The changeover to metric speed limits was carried out very successfully last year, however, we have discovered that there is a lingering lack of knowledge among a sizeable number of motorists with regard to the exact speed limit for different road types.
"When one considers that almost 80 per cent of cars on our roads have a miles per hour reading prominent on their speedometer it is clear that there are important safety implications at stake. For this first anniversary of the introduction of metric speed limits, we are urging motorists to check their knowledge of the speed limits and make sure they know how to convert all of the key speed limits to mph."
The smooth transition by local authorities last year involved authorities erecting almost 60,000 new road signs in the weeks leading up to January 20th. While the entire operation ran relatively smoothly, there has been criticism that the changeover has not been followed up with the promised review of limits.
At the time the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, commented that the speed limit system was being brought into disrepute by limits that defied common sense.