Sir,– Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan says increasing public transport is an easy win in helping reduce emissions this year.
A much easier win for the environment and for people’s pockets would be to reduce the speed limit on motorways to 100km/h.
Fuel consumption at 100km/h is approximately 25 per cent less than at 120km/h.
Reducing the speed limit to 80km/h for larger vehicles like the larger van, rigid trucks and articulated lorries would yield even better results because they have very poor aerodynamics and would substantially reduce their fuel costs.
Pat Leahy: Trouble at the top? Relations between Simon Harris and Micheál Martin are frayed
‘I crossed the river for both my wife and my chips’: End of an era for Lennox’s chipper in Cork
TV guide: the best new shows to watch this week, beginning tonight
My boyfriend’s parents are generally kind, loving people – but they keep spouting bigoted opinions
As it is hard to maintain a high average speed after leaving the motorway, any advantage to speeding down the motorway is soon lost on these slower roads, as lorries and vans spend a lot of time being stationary, either in traffic or in loading bays.
A very easy win for the Minister and completely cost free. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.