Many people on social media are claiming that drivers who drive too slow, or will now drive slower, can actually themselves be the cause of accidents.
As part of a government initiative to lower the number of fatalities and injuries on Irish roads, the speed limit on rural local roads has been lowered from 80 km/h to 60 km/h, reports RTE.
The country has seen the installation of thousands of new road speed signs that reflect the reduced restrictions. The rural speed limit sign, which is a white circle with five black diagonal lines, will now show a maximum speed of 60 km/h rather than 80 km/h.
The ‘L’ on maps designates the roadways, which are primarily rural roads, where the reductions are being implemented, reports RTE.
Further speed limit reductions will be implemented as part of a countrywide speed limit revamp, of which this adjustment is the first stage.
The speed limit on national secondary highways will be dropped from 100 km/h to 80 km/h later this year, while the speed restriction in urban areas, town centres, and housing estates will be cut from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, reports RTE.
The increase in traffic deaths prompted the speed limit decreases.
The Department of Transport commissioned a 2023 Speed Limit Review, which found that lowering speed limits had a major positive impact on safety.
Rural roads with a speed restriction of 80 km/h or above accounted for nearly three out of four road deaths (73%) and nearly half (47%) of all serious injuries sustained between 2020 and 2024, reports RTE.
Last year, there were 174 fatalities on the nation’s highways. There have been sixteen traffic fatalities so far this year.
Achieving “Vision Zero,” or zero traffic fatalities or major injuries by 2050, is the main goal of the government’s current road safety plan, reports RTE.
The modifications to the speed limit are in accordance with many important suggestions made by the Department of Transport’s 2023 Speed Limit Review. It was included in the previous government program.
In addition to An Garda SÃochána, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the City and County Management Association, it was supervised by the Road Safety Authority and the Department of Transport.
Drivers are being cautioned by the Gardaà to slow down and pay attention to the new lower rural and urban restrictions, reports RTE.
A fixed punishment of €160 and three penalty points will be imposed on anyone found to be exceeding the speed limit.
The fine rises to €240 if it is not paid within 28 days, and a court summons will be issued if the higher amount is not paid.
You may get up to five penalty points and a fine of up to €1,000 if found guilty, reports RTE.
The speed limit on national secondary highways will be dropped from 100 km/h to 80 km/h later this year, while the speed restriction in urban areas, town centres, and housing estates will be cut from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.
The Department of Transport commissioned a 2023 Speed Limit Review, which found that lowering speed limits had a major positive impact on safety, reports RTE.
The Department of Transport’s Minister of State has stated that there is “no point” in lowering speed restrictions on rural roads unless maintenance funding is also allocated.
Seán Canney stated during an interview with RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he thinks the government has a “incumbent” responsibility to make sure that roads with hazardous parts are “dealt with”, reports RTE.
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