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.
Tony O’Reilly, Nell McCafferty, Ian Bailey and more: 50 people who died in 2024
Men more likely than women to ‘keep unwanted gifts’
Restaurant of the year, best value and Michelin predictions: Our reviewer’s top picks of 2024
‘I personally only come here for the ladies’: Fog hits racing but not youthful glamour at Leopardstown
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.