Transport chiefs attack 'absurd' city speed limit plan

Transport chiefs hit out today at Dublin City Council’s plan to expand 30kph speed limits.

From next Monday the ultra-low limit area will stretch from Bolton Street on the northside to the Four Courts and on the southside from Christchurch to Merrion Square and back towards the Custom House.

Conor Faughnan, AA director of policy, branded the move an absurd mistake which will infuriate motorists and shatter the council’s reputation.

“There is just no sense in this,” he said.

“30 kph zones work when they are engineered properly, in traffic calmed areas where they are self policing. That’s what they are for.

“But applying them en masse on roads that are engineered for high volumes at flowing speeds is absurd.

“We have problems enough countrywide trying to end the scourge of badly set speed limits without the capital city making a mockery of sensible road design.”

The 30kph limit will apply 24 hours a day, regardless of traffic volumes or the size and capacity of roads in the area.

A council review of accident statistics for the Dublin city area between 1998 and 2007 showed 47% of fatalities and 24% of people injured were pedestrians.

It also pointed to research that 45% of pedestrians die when struck by a car at 50kph but only five per cent if hit at 30kph.

Lord Mayor Emer Costello backed the plan.

“It is well recognised that dangerous and inappropriate speed is the primary contributing factor to road fatalities,” she said.

The new limit will apply to busy roads like Parnell Street, O’Connell Street, College Green, Dame Street, Dawson Street, Kildare Street and the North and South Quays from Tara Street to Fr Matthew Bridge near the Four Courts.

The council said it will make the city more appealing to pedestrians and cyclists.

In many city centre areas traffic moves at an average speed of no more than 12 or 13kph during the working day but the council insisted the new limit was not expected to slow motorists further.

Mr Faughnan said the low limit had been designed for specific locations, such as pedestrian-rich streets, shopping precincts and near schools – not city thoroughfares.

The AA also claimed it would create an unnecessary enforcement challenge for gardaí and a waste of resources.