Metric speed limit signs launched

Drivers across the country today will encounter new speed limits signs on the first day of the metric changeover.

On non-national roads, the speed limit will drop from 60mph to 50mph (80kph), but will increase to 62mph (100kph) on national roads.

In towns and cities, the 30mph speed limit will increase by 1mph to 50kph.

The speed limit on motorways will increase from 70mph to 75mph (120kph).

Local authorities will have the power to introduce special speed limits such as a slower 30kph (19mph) outside schools.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has said that he expects the changeover to go smoothly.

“Over the past number of years we have also adapted well to the use of the metric system in a number of fields. We have been buying our petrol by the litre for a number of years and have made the change to kilometres for measuring distance,” he said.

A leaflet on the new speed limits has been sent to every household and business.

Gardaí have said they will be fully enforcing the new speed limits. More than 58,000 kilometre speed limit signs have been erected by the local authorities as part of the €11.5m metric changeover.