Ireland's road sign manufacturers can expect a bumper year with the Minister for Transport's confirmation that metric speed limits will be introduced in September.
The change-over will require up to 35,000 new signs across the Republic, at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of around €30 million.
Seamus Brennan says it will be a "massive logistical operation". The Working Group on Speed Limits, charged by the minister to make recommendations on the introduction of the metric system, will suggest how the change can be made as smoothly as possible.
Metric speed limits are required by a 1980 European Council directive, which said that the use of different measurement systems hindered trade. At the time the Council agreed on a limited transition period.
Irish Government regulations adopted by the then Minister Dessie O'Malley in 1992 stated that Imperial measures including miles were not to be used after December 31, 1993, except as a supplementary guide to the metric measurement. In a series of three extensions since December 1998, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, stayed the abolition of mph speed limit signs until December 31, 2004.
The logistics of bringing in the new kilometer-per-hour (kph) signs have yet to be finalised, but the Minister's decision has been welcomed by local authorities.
Michael O'Malley, chief engineer with South Tipperary Co Council, welcomes the change but acknowledges difficulties: "It's only right that 10 years after everything else went metric speed signs should follow suit, but the practicalities of manufacturing the signs and installing them in one day should not be underestimated. It will be done, but the detail has yet to be worked out."
Getting all signs made in time for September could be challenging. "There are just five or six companies in Ireland making these signs," says O'Malley. "They'll have to fill orders from every local authority."
Jimmy Noone, Sligo Co Council's road safety officer, says the task is not insurmountable. "Metric signs could be installed before the date and covered until launch day. Then overnight the covers could be switched from the metric signs to the old signs, which could then be removed gradually. It's too much to do it any other way."
Educating Northern drivers on the new system is a concern for Sligo, and other border counties. "If they are used to driving at 60 mph north of the border and then see a sign for 100 in the Republic, it could lead to confusion and worse," says Noone. "A way must be devised so they know once they crossed the border metric limits apply."
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry says recalibrating speedometers must be addressed. Spokesman Alan Nolan says that six months notice would be sufficient to arrange for new cars to display the principal speed read-out in kilometres. Recalibrating second-hand cars is not so straightforward.
The Working Group on Speed Limits recommended reducing the 60 mph (96.5 kph) limit on narrow country roads to 50 mph (80 kph), and the 30mph urban limit 30 kph (18.6 mph) in areas where traffic calming measures were being applied. Limits on motorways look set to be increased to 120 kph.