New speed signs means 'put the foot to the floor' in German claims Mayo councillor

New road signs on local roads to indicate a 60km per hour zone will mean 'put the foot to the floor' to German visitors according to a Mayo councillor.

The introduction of the new speed signs on local roads in February have been criticised by local councillors who claimed they were causing more confusion to motorists.

The speed limit on the majority of local roads around the country have been reduced from 80km per hour to 60km. However, instead of erecting standard 60km per hour speed signs, the Department of Transport have introduced the ‘Rural Speed Limit Sign’ as an 'alternative'. The new sign comprises five angled lines on a white circle with 'Go Mall – Slow' written underneath.

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The signs were once again raised by councillors at the March meeting of Mayo County Council where they questioned who had approved the design of the new signs.

Louisburgh-based Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell criticised the design saying that the equivalent design in Germany signified the start of the autobahn and unlimited speed.

“It is a crazy situation and we need to be very careful with that sign with five bars on it. In Germany that sign means on the autobahn that there is no speed limit. Can you imagine German tourists coming back here and they look at every by-road when in Germany that same sign means put the foot to the floor,” he said with laughter from the council chamber.