PLANS to apply speed limits to cyclists and pedestrians and to breathalyse and drug-test walkers have been branded 'absurd' by the Council of State.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) wants to put a limit on cycling speeds to 'that of a human walking' when using town roads or in built-up areas, and even ban those on foot from going too fast.
Running along roads or pavements could lead to fines if the amendment to the traffic law is approved.
And pedestrians found to be over the drink-drive limit, even if they are not driving, or who refuse to be breathalysed or drug-tested can face fines of up to €1,000.
The Council of State says this is 'ridiculous' and will lead to practically everyone boycotting fiestas, weddings or parties in case they are caught 'drink-walking' home.
Testing will not be random and only if a pedestrian is considered to have been involved in a road traffic accident, but in the event of a person merely walking past the site of the crash he or she could be breathalysed as a matter of course - and possibly fined.
The Council of State also points out that members of the public who have taken prescription or over-the-counter medication such as codeine, benzodiazepam, lorazepam or many other stimulants or tranquillisers would show a positive result in a drug test - and certain strong tranquillisers show up as alcohol in a blood test.
Speed limits for pedestrians and cyclists would 'lead to gridlocks' in towns, would cost a fortune in new warning signs and pavement or cycle-lane markings and could result in a revolt from town councillors who do not want to make the taxpayer fork out for measures they do not agree with.
"The public has not requested these speed limits, and it is absurd to impose them on bicycles and people who do not have speed-o-meters," the Council of State's response says.
And the Council of State is also against moves to dramatically cut driving speed limits.
single-carriageway roads in non-built-up areas, currently with speed limits of 90 or 100 kilometres per hour, could reduce to 50km/h, which is 'too much of a radical slowdown', would 'change the face of transport systems' and 'considerably increase the time needed to get anywhere', the report states.
Opposition members of the central government have backed the Council of State, saying the DGT's proposed new rules are 'erratic and contradictory', with no evidence to show they are necessary, and agreed purely by votes from the PP government with every other party abstaining or voting against.
As the PP government is in the majority, it does not need support from the opposition to push through new laws, however unpopular these are with the other political parties.
