To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department will consider lowering the 40mph speed restriction on the Antrim Road, Templepatrick.

All speed limits in Northern Ireland are assessed in accordance with Departmental guidelines contained within Roads Service Policy and Procedure Guide (RSPPG) E051 ‘Setting Local Speed Limits in Northern Ireland’. In setting a speed limit, the Department considers factors such as the characteristic of the road, the speed of existing traffic, the road traffic collision data and the degree of frontage development. In this way, the speed limit will be seen by the majority of drivers to be sensible and logical, thereby reinforcing a drivers’ assessment of what is a safe speed to travel at. Speed limits for any road must be appropriate for the individual road and environment and it is important, in particular from a driver perspective, that we seek to ensure speed limits are applied consistently.

As you are aware the Antrim Road in Templepatrick is subject to a 40mph speed limit, which has the support of PSNI Road Policing. The A6 has a good safety record through Templepatrick and drivers should be aware they are in an urban environment due to presence of a number of enhanced traffic management features, such as pedestrian islands, central hatching road markings, street lights and 40mph repeater signs.

Given the above, it is considered that the existing 40mph limit remains appropriate and there are no plans to reduce the speed limit at this time.