Dublin City Council is inviting members of the public to provide feedback on a proposal to have a default 30km per hour speed limit across most areas of the city.
The non-statutory public consultation which opened last weekend, continues until Friday, April 23. Members of the public acan make their submissions on Dublin City Council’s Consultation Hub which can be found here: https://www.dublincity.ie/loving30 or by email: [email protected]
Submissions can also be made in writing marked “Speed Limit Review” to the Senior Engineer, Transport Operations, Environment & Transportation Department, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, D08 RF3F.
All submissions will be reviewed and taken into consideration ahead of a final decision being made to extend the 30km/h speed limit. A report will then be prepared and presented the Traffic & Transport Strategic Policy Committee on the 25th May 2021. The report will also be presented at the City Council Monthly Meeting on June 14 this year for approval to carry out a 6-week Statutory Public Consultation process to amend the existing Speed Bye-Laws.
In January 2021, Dublin City Council launched their *Loving 30’ campaign, which aims to amend to reduce speed limits on the main arterial routes (with some exceptions) from 50 km to 30km per hour to make the roads safer for all road users. A number of roads have been specifically requested by elected members to be 40 km/h also (Maps showing proposed 30/km per hour and 40km/h, 50 km/h, 60 km/h, and 80 km/h speed limits will be available to view on the Consultation Hub).
Speaking about the ‘Loving 30’ campaign, the Lord Mayor Hazel Chu said: “I would encourage all Dubliners to have their say about this proposal to extend the 30km/h speed limit across Dublin city. One of the main objectives of Dublin City Council’s Road Safety Strategy is to reduce the number of casualties on the streets of Dublin city, by making Dublin a safer city for all road users especially for cyclists, pedestrians and vulnerable road users.
Remember, road safety is not only the sole responsibility of any one person or authority. It is has a shared, moral responsibility to all of its community. It needs the co-operation and co-ordination by all state agencies, the public, and the private/business sector working together at every level, national, regional and local. As local representatives, we need to take the time to consider these roles and the responsibility in the Reduction of Speed Limits in our city.”
She added “Encouraging active travel is a key driver of this campaign, Pedestrians and cyclists must feel safe on the streets and lowering speed limits would allow for better-shared space opportunities. To encourage a modal switch, more pedestrian and cyclist friendly streets are needed and also lowering speed limits would therefore play a crucial role in providing adequate environments for all vulnerable road users. The fact is that endorsing 50kmh in residential areas and villages will always deter active travel, particularly with the young and old. Let’s make Dublin city an international example. Finally, improving Road Safety is one of the biggest opportunities we have to save lives.”
Brendan O’Brien, Head of Technical Services Traffic, Dublin City Council, said “Since the COVID-19 public health regulations came into effect a year ago we’ve seen an exponential growth in pedestrian and cycling activity on our roads and footpaths.”
“We believe that making the roads safer for everyone is a vision that is worth pursuing. Road accident statistics show lower speeds result in less fatalities, less injuries and severity of injuries with all road users benefiting. The probability that a pedestrian will be killed if hit by a motor vehicle increases dramatically with speed. Road Safety Authority statistics show that lower speeds dramatically reduce the number of people killed in collisions: 1 in 10 pedestrians will die when hit by a car at 30 km/h; at 50 km/h, 5 people in 10 will die, and at 60 km/h, 9 out of 10 pedestrians will die. *Other studies show that 3 in 10 pedestrians will die when hit by a car at 40 km/h.”
PHOTO: Millie Rose Mangan (12) and Juliet Mangan (9) at the launch of the ‘Loving 30 campaign (Conor McCabe Photography)
- Gardaí appeal for help to locate missing 17-year-old from Rathmines
- The Future of Public Service Delivery shows reliance and disparity between voluntary and paid sector
- Warning of ‘thermal stress’ impact on Dublin fish
- Ballyboden close gap on Sarsfields
- Permission for almost 1,000 apartments in Blanchardstown upheld by An Bord Pleanála
