The introduction of a new 60 km/h speed limit on Ireland’s ‘rural local roads’, replacing the previous default 80 km/h limit has been welcomed by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The change comes in response to the findings of the Speed Limit Review, led by the Department of Transport.
The RSA said there was strong public support for lower speed limits on rural local roads.
An RSA commissioned nationally representative survey of over 1200 motorists in November 2024 and found that:
- 60% of motorists consider rural local roads to be unsafe.
- Over 60% of motorists support reducing speed limits on rural local roads.
- The most prominent reasons for support for the change was a perception that most users drive too fast for the conditions on rural local roads and that they often feature sharp bends.
- When shown a photograph of a rural local road, 70% of motorists thought the speed limit was 60km/h or less.
“Managing speed is one of the most effective ways to reduce fatalities and serious injuries from road traffic collisions,” said Michael Rowland, Director of Research, Standards and Assurance with the Road Safety Authority.
He added: “We are also encouraged by the strong public support for this measure as indicated by our research. The majority of people recognise that rural local roads can be dangerous and are in favour of reducing speed limits to make them safer.”
