With more than 1,000 motorists detected speeding so far over the Bank Holiday weekend, Jennie O'Sullivan speaks to people in a Co Cork village, who say speeding is so bad there, they're afraid to let their children walk to the local playground.
Across the country, villages like Rylane, Co Cork, are struggling to cope with the increasing threat posed by speeding.
The results of motor speed data collected by two feedback display signs at either end of the village were recently presented by council engineers to Macroom Municipal District Councillors who were shocked by the results.
The signs show passing drivers their speed, with corresponding flashing warnings to slow down if they are in excess of the village's 50km/h speed limit.
The survey found that nearly 90% of vehicles passing through Rylane village exceeded the 50km/h speed limit, with one recorded travelling at 143km/h.
The village of Rylane has a population of over 600 people.
Data extracted from the displays showed an average 1,061 vehicles passed through the village each day.
However, 86% of all vehicles passing through it were exceeding the 50km/h speed limit.
The average speed of those vehicles was 83km/h.
The village lies along the historic Butter Road connecting Rathmore and Millstreet with Cork city and in recent years has become a busy commuter route.
Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Looney said speed is a problem in the town and across the county.
The only solution, he said, is education and enforcement.
"Enforcement is hugely important, without enforcement I think a sign is only a sign to some people. They don't look at it. Whereas if there is a garda standing there, there is a different attitude".
However, locals say the solution is traffic calming measures.
Diana Hayes and her family live in the village's old police barracks.
She said speeding through the village is so bad they can't use their front door.
"It is a very busy junction. Our playground is just a couple of hundred metres down the road so we do like the children to be able to walk to the playground and go out on their bikes to see their friends but we can't because the road is too dangerous," she said.
Robert Twomey moved from the city to Rylane with his wife Deirdre 17 years ago to raise their family and said the only solution is traffic calming measures.
"How do you slow people down? The signs are there, but people don't take any notice of them. Sometimes people see these digital speed readers and they nearly consider it a target to see what speed they can get on them. Traffic calming, I feel, is the only way to go," he said.
His neighbour, Martina Casey agreed.
"They are overtaking on the white line and it is an accident waiting to happen. There will be a fatality and more than likely, a child," she said.
Treasurer of the local community council Nigel Dennehy said he has been working with the council for the past ten years to try and resolve the speeding issue in the village.
Mr Dennehy said there are plans to put in measures to try and tackle speeding.
They are waiting on the county council to approve funds for a new junction layout at the entrance to the village.
"But from that junction up, to a zebra crossing to get people across the road safely, they are two huge measures we need to get through from County Council," he said.
At the recent Macroom Municipal District Council meeting, officials gave councillors a commitment that they will provide gardaí with their speed analysis data from now on.
While the signs do not record vehicle registration numbers, the information will aid with speed limit enforcement efforts.
In a statement to RTÉ News, Cork County Council said both organisations will work together to "identify an appropriate response to this specific case".
