As part of the government’s ‘Slower Speeds, Safer Roads’ program, speed limits on rural local roads will drop from 80 km/h to 60 km/h starting on Friday, reports RTE.
Under the Road Traffic Act 2024, the campaign will lower speed restrictions on a number of Irish routes this year.
The initial speed restriction modifications will apply to small, rural routes, reports RTE.
These roads are identified by the letter “L” on maps, and as they are primarily rural, it is anticipated that the alterations will have little effect on commute times and traffic.
The Rural Speed restriction sign, which is a white circle with five black diagonal lines beneath and the words “Go Mall, Slow” printed underneath, will be modified starting on Friday to advise drivers that the speed restriction is 60 km/h, reports RTE.
The Department of Transport commissioned a 2023 Speed Limit Review, which found that lowering speed limits had a major positive impact on safety.
Drivers’ reactions to the impending speed limit changes were varied at a petrol station in Lucan, County Dublin, close off the M4.
“I don’t really think it’s going to solve anything,” one said, reports RTE.
“There needs to be more traffic guards on the road, and I think that’s what the problem is,” he said, reports RTE.
Another driver was doubtful that lowering the posted speed restrictions would actually have an impact.
“It’s better training and enforcement of the laws we need,” he said, “and give the [gardaÃ] the power to stop us when we’re not behaving,” reports RTE.
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