N8/N25/N40 - Dunkettle Interchange [open to traffic]

I think one of the issues is that drivers appear to be unaware (or totally ignore) the fact that the 60km/hr speed limit is still in place in the tunnel and remains from the roadworks on the M8 right through until you approach the Mahon exit heading west on the N40. I think the signage is pretty poor and could benefit from an additional 60km/hr sign at the entrance to the tunnel as a lot of drivers assume once they enter the tunnel they are basically "clear" of the roadworks and so back to normal 80 km/hr speed limit.

I do agree the design leading all traffic from the M8 South and N25 East (traffic from Cork City) into Lane 2 of the tunnel without a reasonable chance to get into Lane 1 might be a challenge for true slow moving vehicles (i.e. heavy tractors etc) but these should be the exception and everyone else should be able to move along at close to the limit whether it be 60 or 80.

I think the no-overtaking is going to remain in the tunnel from a safety point of view.

>>I think one of the issues is that drivers appear to be unaware (or totally ignore) the fact that the 60km/hr speed limit is still in place in the tunnel and remains from the roadworks on the M8 right through until you approach the Mahon exit heading west on the N40. I think the signage is pretty poor and could benefit from an additional 60km/hr sign at the entrance to the tunnel as a lot of drivers assume once they enter the tunnel they are basically "clear" of the roadworks and so back to normal 80 km/hr speed limit.

Agreed I used take the link from little island west most mornings and I could be very wrong but I believe there is still an 80 sigh at the start of the tunnel heading west (I usually drive with adaptative cruise on and let it pick up the traffic signs for limits) I know I have certainly being going through the tunnel at 80 and being puzzled at the 60 sign after the the tunnel.

Cheers

Toppy

Here's how to better handle and reduce the queueing on the N40 eastbound in the evenings, or at any time. Also useful at other locations subject to regular queueing. https://mobility.tamu.edu/mip/strategies-pdfs/active-traffic/technical-summary/Variable-Speed-Limit-4-Pg.pdf

My understanding was that we were now waiting for legislation to allow for variable speed limits to be rolled out, with the technology in-place on N40 and M50. I could be wrong.

Any time I've been on the M50 with the variable speed limits displaying 60/80 km/h, everyone just continues to cruise along at 100. If anything, it feels unsafe to actually follow what they say given how fast everyone else is going.

This is in both cases of leading up to standstill traffic, and where they were deployed due to torrential rain!

That’s to do with average speed checks though. I thought it was about introducing variable speed limits to reduce jams at pinch points.

I think its the law around speed limits that needs to be changed which then has a knock on for enforcement. Speed limits are set well in advance and are well documented. So there must be some wording that needs amending so they can be enforceable when they change as circumstances dictate.

This type of automated enforcement is going to be very difficult to implement.

One for another thread but we currently have a reasonably large push-back on the provision of a garda portal to report illegal driving behaviour. The line you'll hear on "drive time radio" is something to the tune of "we don't want to create a stasi-like environment where everyone is spying on everyone, so we shouldn't allow automated reporting of illegal driving". The various motor lobby groups are really pushing the "surveillance state" angle quite hard at the moment. No idea which way it'll go.

I honestly have no idea what you mean by this post. If you wouldn't mind humouring me, could you clarify whether you are in favour of the provision of a law to allow the automation of speed limits, or against it? Or neither, perhaps!

Thats really splitting hairs though. You know as well as I do that those variable advisory speeds should be variable limits.

Seeing a few examples of this. Real risk of collision.

Yeah I've seen it loads on the camera tbh. Luckily haven't encountered it in person.

I doubt it, its very clear on all the gantries and its been in place for some time now. This is just thickness.

I know no such thing. An advisory speed has a different meaning and leaves discretion with the motorist. The current usage of advisory speeds, though forced by the lack of legislation for binding variable limits, is also a pilot, and there are many occasions where a lower speed is advised a lot further back than you would need to actually slow down (sight lines are very good on that section of M50). It's a nice advance warning to drivers to be ready to slow down and certainly to leave even more braking distance than usual. As a rule, an advisory speed will be a lot more conservative than a binding limit for the same section of road. They exist for difference purposes.

Once there is a change to variable limits, there will be some rise in the number of cars choosing to abide by them, along with some level of infringement. Only time and enforcement will tell (but I do have a nasty feeling average speed detection will be a part of that).

There was a collision after Junction 9 Westbound on the N40, the infamous pinch point which has been mentioned here for a long long time.

The traffic is backed up from that incident all the way back to Dunkettle and beyond

It is only effecting West Bound traffic, East bound is not at all effected anymore thankfully by these incidents.

Ireland is well known as a wet country, how rain has anything to do with anything at Dunkettle is beyond me.

Just further to that, a broken down car added to the issue Westbound at Junction 9, currently in the inner lane immediately before the N28 slip.