Government announce plans to reduce speed limits on Irish roads

The Government have announced plans to reduce speed limits on Irish roads.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers said he will bring forth detailed proposals which advise the lowering of speed limits on roads across Ireland.

The suggested changes, due to be in place in the second half of 2024, will lower speed limits from 100 km/h to 80km/h on national secondary roads, 80 km/h to 60 km/h on rural roads and in towns, cities and built up zones, the limit will be 30 km/h. Roads surrounding urban areas will be limited to 50 km/h.

The 120 km/h speed limit on motorways and 100 km/h on national roads will remain unchanged.

We’ve all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and the increase in road fatalities is very concerning after years of progress.

More money for GoSafe cameras will strengthen enforcement and deterrence to help make our roads safer. pic.twitter.com/fPqTxWTbNW

— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) September 4, 2023

Appearing on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Chambers stated that these changes are a result of a review which has been carried out over the last two years.

“So essentially what… we will be doing here is change the baseline of the default limits, where there will be discretion then to local authorities for good design and safety standards,” he said.

Chambers added that he wants to “end the inconsistency and fragmentation of speed limits that we have across our road network”.

There have been 127 deaths on Irish roads this year, 23 higher than 2022 and 38 more than 2019 in the same period.

Justice minister Helen McEntee announced earlier this week that the use of speed detection cameras operating on Irish roads is set to increase by 20%.