ULTRA LOW SPEED LIMIT FOR CENTRAL DUBLIN
From 31st January next Dublin City Council will introduce an ultra-low 30 kph speed limit across most of central Dublin. The affected area will stretch from St Stephen’s Green to Dorset Street and from Merrion Square to Church Street. The North and South Quays are included between the Four Courts to the O2 (Point Depot). All traffic will be restricted to 30kph at all times. Will this affect you? Do you think it is a good idea?
The AA has been broadly supportive of the City Council’s efforts to improve traffic flow and safety in the city centre. The College Green Bus Gate measures installed in July have led to an improvement in bus journey times for commuters but are also blamed by traders as being partly responsible for falling retail sales and reduced footfall. The free bicycle scheme, however, is an unqualified success and has been getting excellent feedback from the public.
Traffic speeds within the city centre are low in any case. During the commuting period the average speed is only 12-13 kph. Road safety is of course a major concern but it should also be noted that the roads in central Dublin are the safest in the country. There have been deaths and injuries, especially involving vulnerable road users like cyclists, but there are particular reasons for this. 75% of cyclist deaths in the city centre involve trucks turning left. This was more common prior to the opening of the Port Tunnel.
These are horrible, and we need measures like safer cycle lanes and ‘cyclops’ mirrors fitted to trucks. But the reality is that these are low-speed fatalities and would not be prevented by a 30kph limit.
Director of Policy Conor Faughnan has expressed concern that the proposed 30kph limit is excessively restrictive in some locations, in particular on the north and south quays where the prospect of forcing all traffic to travel at such a slow speed even during off-peak times seems unrealistic and unnecessary.
The AA has written to all councils across the country in an effort to highlight the ongoing problem with poorly set and poorly signposted speed limits. Many motorists find themselves receiving penalty points in locations where they are doing their best to drive responsibly but have been caught out by eccentric limits.
At the very least, Dublin City Council will have to ensure that this ultra-low limit is accurately and comprehensively signposted.
The AA wants to know if you will be affected by this and whether you agree with the idea. Let us know what you think. You can email Conor Faughnan at publicaffairs@aaireland.ie, or click here to take part in our online poll.