30km/h to be expand to all non-arterial routes across Dublin city centre and beyond

Dublin City Council has opened public consultation into expanding the use of the 30km/h speed limits to all non-arterial routes within the city’s canals in 2016 and to other areas after that.

Via the council’s website you can make a submission or complete a survey, the results of both will be used as part of the consultation. Maps and details can also be found dublincity.ie/speedreview.

The consultation covers three phases. The first phase is the inner city within the canals, except for arterial routes and this is planned to be implemented in December 2016.

Phase two includes Crumlin, Drimnagh, Sandymount, Phibsborough, Raheny, and parts of Cabra, Glasnevin North, Coolock, and a small section of Drumcondra. This is expected to be implemented from April 2017 and also excludes arterial routes.

Phase three — which will be subject to further public consultation — is to include a review of all of the city’s streets and roads, including possable changes to arterial routes. This process is expected to start in Q3 of 2017.

“Ireland as a nation needs to stand up and except that speed is a huge problem in road safety.  The number of cars, blind spots and the population of Ireland is growing, so if this is an issue now can you imagine it again in 5 to 10 years.  We need to act now for prevention of more senseless deaths.  We ask you to support Dublin City Council’s proposal to reduce the speed limit from 50km/hrs to 30km/hrs in residential areas,” said Roseanne Brennan, founder of Jake’s Legacy, which set up after her son Jake was killed in a housing estate in Kilkenny, said in a statement issued by Dublin City Council.

She added: “It adds a little time to your journey, but trust me, that’s a lot better than a life sentence of knowing you took an innocent life. Whether you’re a driver or not, just witnessing someone getting knocked down and lose their life is enough to change your life forever, believe me, I know firsthand. It’s been proven time and time again that less speed, means fewer injuries. A massive thank you to Dublin City Council for what they are trying to achieve.”

Ciarán Cuffe, chairman of the city council’s transport committee, said: “London has already introduced 20 mph speed limits in wide areas and Edinburgh has begun to roll out 20 mph speed limits this summer to cover 80% of the city. A number of other European cities are progressing to introduce speed limits similar to our 30km/hr proposal such as Paris, Lyon, Manchester and many cities and towns in Switzerland and Spain. Lower speed limits save lives and improve the quality of life in our cities.”

However, Declan Wallace, director of traffic at Dublin City Council said that  speed limits must be “self enforcing”.

He said: “Dublin City Council is committed to assessing the appropriate speed limits for our roads and streets. The overriding principle that must inform any decision to change a default speed limit should be Road Safety. In addition, to be effective, a speed limit should be self enforcing and regarded as appropriate by road users and should not be imposed on a road unless there is a clear justification for doing so.”

Wallace added: “By self enforcing we mean that the road layout and the behaviour or mindset of motorists must complement each other and support any introduction of a revised speed limit, such as additional 30km/hr speed zones”.

Anybody wishing to make a submission should do so before 5pm on Wednesday, August 26, 2016.

IMAGE: Map showing phase 1 areas shaded in yellow, phase 2 areas in light blue / aqua, and existing 30km/h areas in pink. CLICK IMAGE TO OPEN PDF MAP: