Speed Limits in Dublin City
Dublin City Council is constantly working for and with the people of Dublin to improve road safety on all streets of the city.
While road safety is important to all road users, cyclists and pedestrians are amongst those who are the most at risk of sustaining injuries in accidents. The extent and severity of injuries are linked to vehicle speed. The higher the speed, the more serious injuries are sustained. Therefore, traffic speed reduction for all vehicles plays a crucial role in improving road safety on the city streets.
In response to this, Dublin City Council took a proactive approach and implemented 30km/h speed limits for all residential areas of Dublin. Most recent Dublin City Council’s bye-laws were adopted at the January 2020 Council meeting. The intention of Dublin City Council’s Transportation Department is to roll out 30km/h speed limits in all residential areas across the local authority by the end of 2021.
Current Speed Limits
The default speed limit for most roads within the Dublin City Council area is 50km/h. Speed limit signs are erected at all points where there is a change of speed limit. The enforcement of the speed limits is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
Dublin City Council has progressively introduced a 30km/h speed limit to many areas of the city.
Dublin City Council has progressively introduced a 30km/h speed limit to many areas of the city, and Dublin City Council will continue to implement 30km/h speed limits in residential areas as per approved Phase 4 - Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2020. Currently, the installation of the new speed limit signage has been resumed in phases for all remaining areas and is expected to be fully in place by mid-2021. Please see map of our Phase 4 Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2020.
Phase 4 Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2020
30 km/h zone expansion:
Proposal for Dublin City Council Special Speed Limit bye-Laws April 2021 Concept Design
The aim of the Proposal for Dublin City Council Special Speed Limit bye-Laws April 2021 Concept Design is reduce the speed to have a default 30km per hour speed limit across most areas of the city.
The introduction of 30km/h speed limit in all roads of the city will make the city safer for more people to walk and cycle.One of the main objectives is to make it easier for children to engage in active travel by walking and cycling to school.
Please see below map of the concept design for this proposal:
Why the need for reduction of the speed limit in our city?
Lowering speed limits and lowering the speed differential between the active modes and motorised traffic will contribute to enhanced safety throughout the city.
The introduction of 30km/h speed limit in all roads of the city will make the city safer for more people to walk and cycle and will also assist in making the city a safer place for everyone.
Road accident statistics show lower speeds result in less fatalities, less injuries and severity of injuries with motorists benefiting most. A 10km/h difference in speed could be the difference between life and death for a vulnerable road user like a pedestrian.
- 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 30km/h, 1 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed.
European Examples.
- London has 20mph (32km/h). Targeted 20mph zones have proven very successful in London and have improved road safety dramatically for all road users, reducing all casualties by 42 per cent and fatal or serious casualties by 46 per cent. The benefits have been felt particularly by children.
- Edinburgh, The speed limit in the capital was dropped from 30mph on the majority of streets, crashes fall by a third after Edinburgh's 20mph limit introduced.
- Paris has 30km/h in its core to improve air quality, but also to reduce noise pollution and traffic accidents. Research has shown that the greater the speed of vehicles in built-up areas, the higher is the incidence of acceleration, deceleration, and braking, all of which increase air pollution. This slower and calmer style of driving reduces emissions.
- Brussels has 30km/h in its core. Its first data from Brussels on average speeds since the new general 30 km/h limits was introduced on the 1st of January 2021. The recently speed survey shows a 9% average reduction in speed and no significant increase in journey times.
General Criteria for the Introduction of 30 km/h
- Traffic Management Guidelines recommends 30 km/h for the speed limit on the main roads and villages.
- There will be exceptions to this speed which are summarised on the map.
- Traffic Management Guidelines explains that the minimum length of a speed limit is normally 800 metres. This is the transition section of the road between the different speeds.
- The proximity of the villages in the city it is recommended to avoid the changes of speed.
- The implementation of different speed limits on the roads will lead to a proliferation of signs throughout the city and cause distraction and confusion for drivers, it is recommended to reduce the amount of speed limit changes.
- The Road Safety Section recommended the reduction 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. Please see examples of our current school zones:
School Zones
Thank you for your comments on the Proposal for Dublin City Council Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws, April 2021.
Feedback is no longer accepted, and the consultation hub is closed.
The Road Safety Section is currently reviewing the feedback received by email, writing submissions and the consultation hub.
The report will be presented at the Traffic and Transport SPC meeting on Wednesday the 25th of May 2021.
Following this meeting, further steps will be decided at this stage, and the below website will be updated.