Loving 30
What is the next plan for the introduction of lower speed limit in the city?
The Road Safety Section did an early engagement with all the city councillor, as it carried out the Workshop Loving 30. The proposal was shown at every Area Committee Meeting during March 2021. Councillors comments and feedback was accepted on the proposal.
The proposal went on the Public Consultation hub for a Non-Statutory Public Consultation Process based on the Councillors comments from Friday 9th April until Friday 23rd April 2021.
We are currently reviewing the feedback received by email, writing submissions and the consultation hub.
Timeline for Implementation of New Speed Bye Laws
- Stage 1 (Completed) – Proposal presented at Each Area Committee Meeting during the month of March 2021.
- Stage 2 (Completed) – Councillors given1 week to send feedback to [email protected].Feedback on the proposal must be given before 5pm on Tuesday 23th of March 2021. If no feedback is received before this date it will be presumed that the Councillor has no feedback relating to the proposal.
- Stage 3 (Completed) – The proposal will go up on the Public Consultation hub for a Non-Statutory Public Consultation Process based on the Councillors comments. This will be for 2 weeks from Friday 9th April until Friday 23rd April 2021.
- Stage 4 – At the end of this process The Road Safety Section will circulate the final map and report for noting to the Councillors at the beginning of May 2021.
- Stage 5 – The report will be presented at the Traffic
- and Transport SPC meeting on Wednesday the 25th of May 2021.
- Stage 6 – The report will be presented at the City Council Monthly Meeting on the Monday the 14th June 2021 to obtain the approval to carry out a 6 week Statutory Public Consultation from Wednesday 30th of June to Wednesday 11th of August 2021.
- Stage 7 – The report of the outcome of the Statutory Public Consultation will be presented at the Traffic and Transport SPC meeting on Wednesday the 8th of September 2021.
- Stage 8 – The report of the outcome of the Statutory Public Consultation will be presented at the City Council Monthly Meeting on Wednesday the 4th of October 2021.
- Stage 9– With the approval of the Councillors on the Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws, 2021 the Road Safety Section will carry out the implementation of signage starting on December 2021
Please see the following maps of the proposal for the reduction of the speed limit:
What is the benefit of lower speed limits, particularly in residential areas and around schools?
Dublin City Council is constantly working for and with the people of Dublin to improve road safety on all streets of the City. Therefore, traffic speed reduction for all vehicles plays a crucial role in improving road safety on City streets.
Speed is a major contributory factor to road deaths in the Republic of Ireland. Over 40% of fatal collisions are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed. Between 1997 and 2012, excessive speed contributed to 21% of our road deaths. This is equivalent to 1,162 lives (source: RSA).
Speed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from crashes
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
Figure 1: Illustration from the Road Safety Authority showing the impact of vehicle speeds on pedestrian fatalities.
In order to protect the larger numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users moving around in these areas and on the road carriageway. The introduction of 30km/h speed limit in all roads of the city except roads specifically listed in the bye-laws 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.
What other countries or cities are introducing 30km/hr speed limits or the equivalent?