Ramps prompt legal challenges

South Dublin County Council has received the largest number of legal claims among the local authorities from motorists claiming to have been injured or suffered damage to their cars after driving over speed ramps.

The council also faces two High Court claims, along with Dublin Bus, from two passengers who claim they were injured when a bus they were travelling on went over a speed ramp.

The High Court handles claims for damages that are in excess of €38,092.

Since 2000, south Dublin has received nine claims for compensation, four for personal injury and five for damage to cars.

Speed ramps have been introduced by most city councils as part of a package of traffic  calming measures along residential roads. Dublin City Council received the next largest number of claims at five. Dún Laoghaire County Council has received three claims, the same number as Cork.

Bus Eireann is currently the subject of legal proceedings relating to one of its vehicles that travelled over a speed ramp in Carlow.

Limerick City Council, Galway City Council, Fingal County Council, Waterford City Council and Cork City Council said they had received a small number of complaints but are not subject to legal proceedings.

In June 2002 a man was awarded more than ¤18,000 in the Dublin Circuit Civil Court after he injured his spine while crossing a speed ramp. This led to fears that local authorities could face a series of costly claims.

In that case, the court was told by engineer Conor Gleeson that he was amazed at the number of ramps built which did not meet the strict regulations governing position, height and design.

The case he was commenting on concerned a motorist who drove over an unmarked ramp in Tallaght in October 1998.

Ramps on the same road were examined and found to vary in height from 133 mm to 144mm, considerably higher than the regulations which stipulate a maximum 100mm height.

The standard height for a ramp is now 75mm, considerably lower than many ramps introduced in different local authorities from 1994 up until the Traffic Management Guidelines were published by the Department of Transport in 2003.

Tom Curtin, administrative officer in the South Dublin County Council said the council was about half-way through introducing a network of traffic calming measures.

Mr Curtin said the work was concentrated on established areas and that ramps were not always used. "When you look at an area with no traffic calming we don’t look at ramps as a first option. "

He said all traffic calming works are introduced with consultation with local residents.

"We have to make sure that we do not create unreasonably slow limits because this leads to frustration from drivers."

Mr Curtin said the council was going to review the effectiveness of its measures early this year.