Changes To Rural Speed Limits Delayed Until February

Changes to speed limits on rural and locals roads, which were due to come into effect from November this year, have been delayed until February 7, 2025, according to the Department of Transport.

The changes are part of Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030, which has the primary aim of reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% by 2030.

The first phase of the action plan for the strategy set out the need for a working group of relevant stakeholders to review speed limits. The group published its review in September 2023.

The group comprised of members from the following authorities: Department of Transport; Road Safety Authority (RSA); An Garda Síochána; Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII); National Transport Authority (NTA); and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).

The review highlighted that protecting vulnerable road users must be a “key focus” when setting speed limits. It recommended changes to default speed limits on three classes of roads, including the following:

• Rural local roads to reduce from 80km/h to 60km/h;
• National secondary roads to reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h;
• Roads in built-up areas to reduce from 50km/h to 30km/h.

While default limits are set in primary legislation, special speed limits are set locally by each local authority in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Transport.

Speed Limits

The setting of such limits is a devolved responsibility for local government and recent legislation has not changed this structure, or affected the capacity of Local Authorities to vary special speed limits.

The Department of Transport issued new guidelines to Local Authorities in early 2024 to assist them with this process.

Each local authority has been asked to carry out a review in accordance with these updated guidelines in advance of the commencement of the default speed limit of 60km/h.

There will be a national public information campaign in advance of the first change, and it is expected that other changes will be implemented from June 2025.

(Source – Agriland – Louise Hickey – 04/12/2024)