Councils told to lower speed limits to 30km/h in some built-up areas

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien has told councils he wants to have the 30km/h speed limits in built-up areas in place by March 31, 2027. Stock picture

The Government has told councils to review speed limits in built-up areas with a view to lowering many to 30km/h within 18 months.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien has directed local authorities to review existing speed limits on roads in built-up and urban areas.

Councils will begin to implement lower speed limits including the introduction of 30km/h speed limits where it is deemed appropriate, such as on roads in cities and towns.

Mr O’Brien has told the councils he wants to have the 30km/h speed limits in built-up and urban areas operational by March 31, 2027, as the Government aims to cut road deaths by 50%.

137 road deaths this year

According to garda figures, there have been 137 deaths on Irish roads this year — up four on the same time last year.

Mr O’Brien said achieving that 50% reduction would only be possible by lowering speed limits and working to protect vulnerable road users.

Statistics show that pedestrians and cyclists account for 42 of the deaths this year.

“Making this vision a reality means we need to work together to increase protection for all, but particularly vulnerable road users,” said Mr O’Brien.

Having lower speed limits in built-up and urban areas will greatly improve road safety, especially for those who walk, scoot, or cycle. 

Local bylaws 

A Government statement said that speed limit changes will be implemented by local authorities through the adoption of “special speed limit bylaws”, rather than by changing default limits.

That means that local authorities will have to hold public consultation processes, and that speed limits on roads in built-up and urban areas can only be changed where a majority of the elected members in a council vote to do so.

Guidance issued to councils states that an urban speed limit zone (USLZ) should be identified, and that the 30km/h limit should apply to “roads in the defined ‘urban core’”, adding that these are “roads where there is a significant and regular interaction with vulnerable road users”.

It adds that housing estates, residential streets, and roads adjacent to schools in the zones should also come under the guidance.

“The Government’s road safety strategy sets out to reduce speeds to safe, appropriate levels for the roads being used and the people using them,” it says.

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“We know that the risk of being killed or seriously injured is much greater when a car and a vulnerable road user collide at 50km/h, compared to the same type of collision at 30km/h. This is why protecting vulnerable road users is a key focus in setting speed limits.”

There are already 30km/h speed limits on many roads in built-up and urban areas, including in Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, and Dundalk.

Over the past 10 years, local authorities have also introduced 30km/h limits in many housing estates.