The changes are designed to allow for safer and calmer environments for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
A number of new slow zones will be compulsory in certain residential areas and in the vicinity of schools in Dublin City centre from midnight tonight, Friday 31 March.
Details of the expansion of 30km/hr speed limit zones in Dublin city centre were announced by Dublin City Council’s Environment and Transportation Department, in conjunction with key stakeholders in the city, on Friday morning.
Dublin City Council says that the expansion of the 30km/hr speed limit zones will generally not affect the arterial roads in and out of the city but rather the residential areas of the city.
New signage will be revealed in housing estates and locations where the 30km/hr speed limit is being applied and a Slow Zone is being created from midnight tonight.
A detailed map of the zones where the expansion of the 30km/hr limit will come into effect can be viewed here.
Roseann Brennan, founder of ‘Jakes Legacy’, has campaigned for a 30km/hr speed limit to be introduced to residential areas since she lost her son, while at play, to a road traffic accident in her estate in 2014.
Commenting on the announcement today, Roseann said: “To all road users I want people to be aware that no one wants to live with regret in their lives due to a small mistake that could easily have been avoided.
“The 30km/h speed limit expansion makes so much sense. When a pedestrian walks out on the road and a driver is distracted a slower speed allows for everyone to come away from a road traffic accident with fewer injuries or even a life saved.
“Slower speeds will result in fewer injuries. Just stop and think before you get into your car and drive, especially in residential areas. Jakes Legacy really admires how Dublin City Council has made the speed limits in the city such a priority. Feedback from residents in Dublin City shows that drivers are beginning to take our road safety seriously. All we can wish for at this point is that all other counties in Ireland will follow suit”.
Bye-laws for the 30km/hr expansion were adopted by Dublin City councillors in December 2016 following a period of public consultation and a plan to extend the 30km/hr further into the suburbs will begin in June 2017.
