Dublin City Council Opens a Non-Statutory Public Consultation Process to extend 30/km per hour Speed Limit in Dublin city

• Road accident statistics show lower speeds result in less fatalities, less injuries and severity of injuries. 
• A 10 km/h difference in speed could be the difference between life and death for a vulnerable road user like a pedestrian.  

Dublin City Council is inviting members of the public to provide feedback on a proposal to have a default 30km per hour speed limit across most areas of the city.

The Non-Statutory public consultation opens on Friday, 9th April until Friday, 23rd April 2021. Members of the public are asked to make their submissions on Dublin City Council’s Consultation Hub which can be found here: https://www.dublincity.ie/loving30 or by email: [email protected] 

Submissions can also be made in writing marked “Speed Limit Review” to the Senior Engineer, Transport Operations, Environment & Transportation Department, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, D08 RF3F. 

All submissions will be reviewed and taken into consideration ahead of a final decision being made to extend the 30km/h speed limit.

A report will then be prepared and presented the Traffic & Transport Strategic Policy Committee on the 25th May 2021. The report will also be presented at the City Council Monthly Meeting on the 14th of June 2021 for approval to carry out a 6 - week Statutory Public Consultation process to amend the existing Speed Bye-Laws. 

In January 2021, Dublin City Council launched their *Loving 30’ campaign, which aims to amend to reduce speed limits on the main arterial routes (with some exceptions) from 50 km to 30km per hour to make the roads safer for all road users. A number of roads have been specifically requested by elected members to be 40 km/h also (Maps showing proposed 30/km per hour and 40km/h, 50 km/h, 60 km/h, and 80 km/h speed limits will be available to view on the Consultation Hub). 

Speaking about the ‘Loving 30’ campaign, the Lord Mayor Hazel Chu said “I would encourage all Dubliners to have their say about this proposal to extend the 30km/h speed limit across Dublin city. One of the main objectives of Dublin City Council’s Road Safety Strategy is to reduce the number of casualties on the streets of Dublin city, by making Dublin a safer city for all road users especially for cyclists, pedestrians and vulnerable road users. 

Remember, road safety is not only the sole responsibility of any one person or authority. It is has a shared, moral responsibility to all of its community. It needs the co-operation and co-ordination by all state agencies, the public, and the private/business sector working together at every level, national, regional and local. As local representatives, we need to take the time to consider these roles and the responsibility in the Reduction of Speed Limits in our city." 

She added “Encouraging active travel is a key driver of this campaign, Pedestrians and cyclists must feel safe on the streets and lowering speed limits would allow for better-shared space opportunities.  To encourage a modal switch, more pedestrian and cyclist friendly streets are needed and also lowering speed limits would therefore play a crucial role in providing adequate environments for all vulnerable road users.  The fact is that endorsing 50kmh in residential areas and villages will always deter active travel, particularly with the young and old. Let’s make Dublin city an international example. Finally, improving Road Safety is one of the biggest opportunities we have to save lives.” 

Brendan O’Brien, Head of Technical Services Traffic, Dublin City Council, said “Since the COVID-19 public health regulations came into effect a year ago we’ve seen an exponential growth in pedestrian and cycling activity on our roads and footpaths.” 

“We believe that making the roads safer for everyone is a vision that is worth pursuing. Road accident statistics show lower speeds result in less fatalities, less injuries and severity of injuries with all road users benefiting. The probability that a pedestrian will be killed if hit by a motor vehicle increases dramatically with speed. Road Safety Authority statistics show that lower speeds dramatically reduce the number of people killed in collisions: 1 in 10 pedestrians will die when hit by a car at 30 km/h; at 50 km/h, 5 people in 10 will die, and at 60 km/h, 9 out of 10 pedestrians will die. *Other studies show that 3 in 10 pedestrians will die when hit by a car at 40 km/h.” 

He continued “One of the main objectives to extend the 30km/h speed limit throughout the city is to make it easier for children to engage in active travel by walking and cycling to school. Dublin City Council has received applications from many schools located within 50km/h speed limit areas, which are not suitable for the implementation of school zones in accordance with NTA guidelines. In this proposal, The Road Safety Section within Dublin City Council recommended reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h at all school locations in Dublin. This will reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and will encourage cycling and walking among children with the associated benefits of better physical and mental health and better concentration.” 

Notes to the Editor: 

Speed Management 

*Speeding increases the likelihood that a driver will lose control of the vehicle, since there is less time to anticipate oncoming hazards. It also causes others using the road to misjudge the intentions of the speeding driver. As speed increases, so does the distance travelled during the driver’s reaction time and the distance needed to avoid an obstacle or stop; in this regard, the likelihood that the driver will be able to regain control of the vehicle also decreases, since there is less time to react. Furthermore, higher speeds increase instability and risk when approaching a curve. At an intersection, higher speed decreases the likelihood that the driver will be able to take evasive action in an emergency situation when another vehicle is in the way. In addition, the severity and consequences of a crash increase with speed, since higher energy levels are involved. 

Source: Speed management, a road safety manual for decision makers and practitioners (GRSF, 2008) the Stopping distance for emergency braking explains that “The higher the speed, the longer the stopping distance. Even if a collision occurs, the consequences are less severe at a slower speed. When a car travels at 40 km/h, the stopping distance is 20m, but when a car travels at 30 km/h, the stopping distances in an emergency braking is 13m.  

Research has shown that reducing speed limits saves lives:

• Hit by a car at 60km/h, 9 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed.
• Hit by a car at 50km/h, 5 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed.
• Hit by a car at 40km/h 3 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed
• Hit by a car at 30km/h, 1 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed.

Benefits of 30km/h speed limit:

• A calmer city, safer roads and shorter braking distance.
• It gives the driver a better view of their surroundings and makes it easier for them to see any pedestrians crossing the road, cyclists and other vehicles.
• 30km/h increases mobility for younger people, improves health as more people walk or cycle and it creates vibrant people-friendly spaces.
• Makes a city a safer place to live. 

To find out more about the Loving 30 campaign click here: https://www.dublincity.ie/loving30

 Photo Captions: 

1. Pictured at the launch of the ‘Loving 30 campaign’ are Lord Mayor Hazel Chu with Millie Rose Mangan (12) and Juliet Mangan (9).

           Photo credit: Conor McCabe Photography 

2. Pictured at the launch of the ‘Loving 30 campaign’ are Millie Rose Mangan (12) and Juliet Mangan (9).

           Photo credit: Conor McCabe Photography 

3. Pictured at the launch of the ‘Loving 30 campaign’ are Millie Rose Mangan (12) and Juliet Mangan (9).

          Photo credit: Conor McCabe Photography