The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging local authorities to introduce more 30km/h zones in towns and cities around Ireland, as global evidence shows that the country is falling behind Europe in setting 30km/h speed limits.
National and international road safety experts provided insights into speed limits across Europe at the RSA’s Annual Academic Road Safety Lecture. One speaker was Rod King MBE, founder of the ‘20’s Plenty’ initiative in the UK which campaigns for the roll out of 20mph (30km/h) limits across the UK.
In the last couple of years cities across the Europe have made strides toward 30km/h becoming the default speed limit. Ireland’s capital city, Dublin, has already introduced a 30km/h limit.
“Dublin City Council has pioneered the roll out of 30km/h limits in this country and I sincerely hope that their example will be copied by other local authorities around the country,” said RSA Chief Executive Officer Moyagh Murdock. “In the last couple of years there have been significant moves towards 30km/h becoming the default speed limit in urban areas on the continent. Because 30km/h limits in our town and city centers means a safer, healthier, greener, prosperous, quieter and better quality of life for people.”
The RSA is seeking support for its national drive to save lives during Irish Road Safety Week (IRSW), which takes place from Monday 2 October to Sunday 8 October with road safety activities planned nationwide.
