Creating Calmer and Safer Communities in Dublin City Centre

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Dublin City Council’s Environment and Transportation Department, in conjunction with key stakeholders in the city, will announce details of the expansion of the 30km/hr speed limit zones in Dublin City centre at St Francis CBS, John Dillon Street, Dublin 8 on Friday 31st March at 10.30am.

From midnight on Friday, 31st March the new Slow Zones will be compulsory in certain residential areas and in the vicinity of schools in Dublin City centre. This will result in safer and calmer environments for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

This expansion will generally not affect the arterial roads in and out of the city but rather the residential areas of the city. From midnight tonight 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.  Detailed map available at the following link: http://bit.ly/30kmhrExpApril2017

Councillor Ciarán Cuffe, Chairperson of Dublin City Council’s Transportation Strategic Policy Committee and representing Lord Mayor Brendan Carr commented “Lower speed limits mean safer streets and calmer communities. We’re following the lead of cities like London and Edinburgh, and we’re responding to the wishes of residents.  Parents want their children to be able to walk and cycle and to school, and older people want to cross the road in safety. These measures will save lives”.

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.

Speaking at the announcement 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”.

Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said, “I welcome the rollout of a 30km/h speed limit in the Dublin city centre area by Dublin City Council. Ireland is falling behind the rest of Europe in the setting of 30km speed limits in the centres of towns and cities. For example, Edinburgh has recently extended 30km/h zones across 80% of its city streets. In the UK 13 million people live in this lower speed zone which protects our most vulnerable of road users, namely pedestrians and cyclists.”

She added that, “The list of benefits extend beyond the obvious road safety ones, they include environmental benefits, health benefits and economic benefits. Economic benefits linked to the tourism potential of lower speed limits. In the UK they sell the fact that all the major tourist attractions are located in 30km/h zones, to encourage visitors. I have previously called on all local authorities to introduce more 30km/h zones in their areas and I renew that appeal again now.”

The Principal of Francis Street CBS School, Fiona Collins, commented “We are delighted to help launch the 30 km/hr speed limit expansion in the city from our school today. The promotion of safer and calmer streets that encourage walking and cycling very much aligns with our culture of wellness and positive community involvement here in Francis St. C.B.S.  Many of our children walk to school and take part in after school activities and so we wish to not only promote this further but make this experience as safe as possible. This initiative as with all initiatives undertaken by Dublin City Council to make our city centre and residential streets safer and calmer is very much welcomed by our school community”.

“We have expanded the 30km/hr slow zones in Dublin City centre with a view to encouraging a mindset shift in motorists to slow down in our residential areas to 30km/hr thereby reducing significantly the likelihood of injuries and fatalities.  It is also crucial that all road users be aware of and adhere to the rules of the road at all times to ensure the safety of all and to set a good example to our younger people”, said Dick Brady, Assistant Chief Executive, Dublin City Council.

Bye-laws for the 30km/hr expansion were adopted by Dublin City councillors in December 2016 following a period of public consultation.  A plan to extend the 30km/hr further into the suburbs will begin in June 2017.