Speed Limits in Dublin 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 2020.

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.

Public consultation

COVID-19 has radically changed transport in our city. Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority have had to put a strategic programme together to get Dublin ready for when more people are coming back into the city.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions reduced traffic levels have resulted in many positive impacts including cleaner air, less noise pollution and an increase in people walking and cycling in their local neighbourhoods. Less people will be able to travel on public transport and more people will need to be accommodated on other modes. Consequently, there will be many more people cycling each day as well as an increase in the numbers walking and as happens at the moment, people stepping out into the carriageway to socially distance from other pedestrians.

The goal of this programme is to allow the city to function under the new arrangements arising from the COVID-19 public health emergency, both in terms of providing space for safe movement plus business activities and in accommodating the changed transport patterns.

As outlined at the Interim Mobility Intervention Programme for Dublin city, Dublin City Council has committed to a review speed limits in the city.

The measures developed in response to a new and unprecedented emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are being implemented on a temporary/emergency basis to respond to the urgent and immediate needs of the city.

In line with other European cities consideration is been given to reducing vehicular speed limits on many of the routes to 30 km/h, in order to protect the larger numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users moving around in these areas and on the road carriageway.

30 km/h zone expansion:

Having reviewed the network around the city, taking factors such as road legibility, road classification, length of road, speed limits of the roads that intersect with the other local authorities boundaries (i.e. Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councils), etc into account, Dublin City Council is proposing a new concept for the speed reduction within this phase.

At present all roads in the Dublin City Council area have a default speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour, where the posted speed limit varies from this speed the roads are specifically listed in the speed bye laws, for example roads with 80, 60 and 30 km/h are listed individually but not the roads with 50 km/h, as this is the default. It is now proposed to change the default speed limit from 50 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour and this would now be the default speed limit on all roads in the Dublin City Council administrative area as specified in the attached map, except roads specifically listed in the bye-laws.

This will aid in clarity for all road users as except where specifically signed, all roads should now be assumed to have a 30km/h limit. This expansion will not only focus on the core reasons for the speed limit but also take cognisance of the many representations received over the course of the pandemic. This measure will build on the 30km/h zones already established, make it safer for more people to walk and cycle and will also assist in making the city a safer place for everyone. It is planned to proceed where possible and grow the zones organically providing consistency throughout various areas as motorists move through them.

Please see below Figure 1 showing the proposed expansion of 30 km/h in as part of Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2020 (COVID-19) Phase 5 for Dublin city.

Figure 1: Dublin City Council Proposed Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2020 (COVID19) Phase 5.

Dublin City Council wish to engage through public consultation with members of the public with regard to the expansion of the 30km/h speed limit in all roads of the city, except roads specifically listed in the bye-laws. 

The application of special speed limits is being undertaken in accordance with the ‘Guidelines for Setting & Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’ (March 2015), published by the Department of Transport Tourism & Sport. The Road Traffic Act of 2004 (Section 9) http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/44/section/9/enacted/en/html ] sets out the current legislative basis for the setting of speed limits.

If you wish to submit your comments please go to this link

Details and drawings are also available for inspection from 2nd July 2020 to 13th August 2020 at:

• The public counter in the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8
• Dublin City Council libraries
• Dublin City Council Area Offices

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, please contact your nearest open library or Area Office for more instructions before visiting the premises. Please make yourself familiar with these proposals and let us know your views.

Submissions may be made online, on or before 5pm on Thursday 13th August 2020. 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, or via email [email protected]