M11 speed limit

I heard on Newstalk today that the speed limit on the M11 between Loughlinstown and Bray (both ways) is going to be set at 40MPH for the foreseeable future. This is not only annoying, but almost certainly ridiculous.

If you didn't live in the area you'd surely believe that this reduced speed was a new development. Yet, anyone living out this way knows that the speed limit for the last mile or two has been set at 40MPH for a long time now. And, you'd also know that NO ONE observes the 40MPH limit.

When the reduced speed area was first introduced, I tried to travel at 40MPH. But, because it was totally unenforced, most people carried on at 70MPH. This was going to lead to a serious accident someday as the gap between those two speeds was too great. Eventually, those of us who obeyed the signs started going a little faster until we got back up to around 60MPH through that zone. I'm still generally stuck in the left hand lane at that speed and passed by those who are going 70+.

The key question really is whether this extended 40MPH zone will be regulated or not. If not, then this announcement is a joke.