Department of Transport has great 'sport' with speed limits

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport sets national speed limits in Ireland, and they are out to get you! Therein lies a clue for the tuned-in motorist - 'SPORT' - an opportunity for the legislators to have a bit of fun at the expense of the motorist. That can be the only reason for the sudden change to the speed limit on the N52 that snakes into Meath near Ardee where it becomes a 80kph road until it exits the Royal County a few miles outside Kells where is is transformed to full 100kph status again. We all know that driving can be hazardous at the best of times, but there are so many side issues, booby traps lurking in shadows for the beleaguered motorist that it would be fair to expect new, environmentally-friendly cars to carry a Government health warning. "WE ARE OUT TO GET YOU" - that type of thing. The standard breed of motorist is fairly law abiding - he or she will have a vehicle that will be taxed and insured, have a valid NCT certificate, four tyres with a tread depth greater than the legal minimum of 1.6 mm, a functional exhaust, maybe even a hands-free kit - the list goes on, but the motorist will not get any credit for compliance with a multitude of regulations. The traps relate to things like signs, for example, or sometimes, the lack of them or even conflicting signs. Take the N52, a road that goes all the way from Louth to Tipperary with a section in Meath from close to Ardee going through places like Ongenstown, Carlanstown, Kells and on to Clonmellon and Delvin. The N52 even has to give way to a regional road - the R162 - at what would be known as Cassidy's Cross between Wilkinstown and Nobber where there is a staggered crossroads. A speed limit of 100 kph is in place on all national roads - including dual carriageways - except, it seems on that portion of the N52 in Meath where there is a limit of 80kph. However, once you hit the county boundary with Westmeath - the N52 becomes a 100 kph road. Watch out for law enforcement - the vehicles with the 'go-faster stripes' on the cars - lurking in the greenery on the Meath side of the N52 near Clonmellon. There you will be snapped at 100kph as you leave Westmeath. You can look forward to paying your €80 fine and adding some penalty points. And there is no real opportunity anymore for a debate on the matter - the courts are too busy dealing with the ones that got away? If you fail to pay your fine inside 28 days, the fine then increases to €120, which you must pay within a further 28 days. Now there is also a little catch - the 28-day-rule - it applies from the date of issue of the notice and not from the date you receive it, but that's not abundantly clear on the notice. The simple solution to that anomaly would be for a 'payment due by date' - but then, as our legislators have demonstrated on more than one occasion - simple is difficult. If after this time, you still have not paid your fine, you will have to go to a District Court. If you are convicted in court for speeding and non-payment of fines - notice that you now face two charges - you will automatically receive four penalty points and a fine up to €800. Simple! Watch out for the 'Welcome to Meath' sign - what it really means is - 'Welcome, we will take great delight in relieving you of €80, we will give you two penalty points for doing something that is not allowed here, but is allowed in Westmeath' - Welcome to Meath.