The first of three planned reductions in speed limits on roads around the country is set to take place this Friday, February 7 with An Garda Siochana warning motorists that its members will be out in force to ensure the new limits are being obeyed.

Speed limit reductions on all roads are set to be implemented on a phased basis as part of the Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 in an effort to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by the end of the decade. The move is in line with the ‘Vision Zero’ aspiration for 2050 adopted across EU member States.

The Speed Limit Review was presented to Government and published in September 2023, and the Road Traffic Act 2024 was signed into law in April 2024, and included provisions to amend the default speed limits on rural, local roads, urban roads and national secondary roads.

The change in default speed limits for rural local roads, from 80km/h to 60km/h, will be implemented first, starting this Friday. The striped ‘rural speed limit sign’, which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will also now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force.

Future phases will focus on the speed limit in urban cores, which include built up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, reducing to 30 km/h; while the speed limit on national secondary roads is recommended to reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

“Reducing speed limits is a proven way to save lives,” said Elena Leao of AA Ireland.

“These changes reflect a commitment to tackling the factors that contribute to road traffic accidents and fatalities. We encourage all drivers to familiarise themselves with the updated speed limits and adapt their driving habits accordingly.

“Speed limits exist to protect everyone on the road. This initiative is a positive step toward creating safer communities and ensuring that we meet the ambitious targets set out in the Road Safety Strategy,” she said.

Countries across Europe including France and the UK have lowered speed limits on certain road types in recent years. Subsequent research has indicated that reducing speed limits contributed to a 10% reduction in road fatalities in France and contributed to a reduction in insurance costs in the UK.

International research indicates that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions, and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths.

To find out more about the new slower speed limits, log on to gov.ie/speedlimits.

Pictured: The speed limit on local roads is to reduce from 80km/h to 60km/h from on Friday 7 February.