The National Safety Council has defended the short lead-in period to the introduction of metric speed limits, claiming that a fortnight is sufficient notice for motorists.
A publicity campaign began yesterday for the new limits, which come into effect on January 20th.
Among those questioning the timing of the move was Fine Gael's transport spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, who said there was a real danger that the public would not be able to familiarise itself with the changes.
But the chairman of the Safety Council, Mr Eddie Shaw, said: "All the research indicates that the best way to inform people is by a high-level, short, sharp campaign." The Garda Síochána warned there would be no relaxation of enforcement during the introduction.
"There's going to be no amnesty or anything like that. It will be full enforcement from the 20th," said the Deputy Garda Commissioner, Mr Fachtna Murphy.
At the start of the publicity campaign in Dublin yesterday, Mr Murphy added that the Garda enforced traffic laws fairly and "without any consideration for raising revenue".
"I regret a perception that in some way we would be enforcing the law in a manner that would be towards entrapment of people." He noted that a "sizeable majority" of the 379 deaths on the roads last year were as a result of inappropriate speed.
Under the new system, the "general speed limit" of 60 m.p.h. will be abolished. In its place will be a 100 k.p.h. (62 m.p.h.) limit on rural national roads, which includes most dual carriageways; and a limit of 80 k.p.h. (50 m.p.h.) on rural and local roads. Towns and cities will have a limit of 50 k.p.h. (31 m.p.h.), and motorways 120 k.p.h. (75 m.p.h.). A new low speed limit of 30 k.p.h. (19 m.p.h.) will be introduced in designated urban areas.
The changes mean the speed limit on 91 per cent of Ireland's 96,000km of road will decrease. On the remaining 9 per cent it will increase slightly.
Mr Shaw said motoring lobby groups had identified about 66 areas with inappropriate or inconsistent speed limits, and there was "no easy answer" to their concerns. But he said a provision under the new legislation, obliging local authorities to engage in a public consultation on limit changes, could help to minimise controversy in the future.
A website (www.gometric.ie) and lo-call number (1890 50 60 80) have been set up to handle public queries on the new limits.
