View source for Speed limits in Ireland

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
[[File:Put your foot down^ - geograph.org.uk - 467690.jpg|thumb|Sign at the [[Irish border]] indicating that limits in the [[Republic of Ireland]] are denominated in km/h; [[Road speed limits in the United Kingdom]] (of which [[Northern Ireland]] is part) are given in miles per hour. Without this reminder, a motorist might mistakenly think that the sign indicates a limit of 100 mph (160 km/h).]]
'''Speed limits in Ireland''' apply on all public roads in the state. These are regulated in the ''Road Traffic Act 2004'', and are signposted and legislated for in kilometres per hour.<ref name="rta2004">{{cite web |title=Road Traffic Act 2004 |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/44/enacted/en/print#part2 |publisher=[[Irish Statute Book]] |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref>{{rp|at=Part 2}}

[[Speed limit]]s are demarcated by [[regulatory sign|regulatory road signs]]. These consist of white circular signs with a red outline. Speed limits are marked in black with "[[km/h]]" below the speed limit. Smaller "repeater" speed limit signs are used along stretches of road where there is no change in speed limit, in order to remind motorists currently on the road and to inform traffic merging from junctions that a certain speed limit applies.

==History==
{{Expand section|1=information regarding the 2023 Speed Limit Review|date=February 2025|small=no}}
The first speed limits in Ireland were introduced [[British rule in Ireland|prior to independence]], by regulations made in 1876 under the ''Dublin Traffic Act 1875'', which prescribed speed limits of {{convert|6|mph|abbr=on}} for certain vehicles. The ''Light Locomotives on Highways (Ireland) Order 1896'' then set a maximum national speed limit of {{convert|12|mph|abbr=on}} with a speed limit of {{convert|6|mph|abbr=on}} for traffic in villages, towns and the [[Dublin Metropolitan Police|Dublin Metropolitan Police District]]. Vehicles weighing more than 2 tons (unladen) were restricted to {{convert|5|mph|abbr=on}} in these areas. This situation was updated in 1933 with ''Road Traffic Act 1933'' prescribing an ordinary speed limit of 25&nbsp;mph (40&nbsp;km/h) for light motor vehicles or heavy motor vehicles fitted with pneumatic tyres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1933/act/11 |title=Road Traffic Act 1933 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> Lower speed limits were applied for heavy motor vehicles without some pneumatic tyres, or used for pulling another vehicle. Road signage was established by the ''Traffic Signs Regulations, 1956''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1956/si/284/made/en/print |title=Traffic Signs Regulations, 1956 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref>

However, the main piece of legislation responsible for the introduction of speed limits in Ireland was Part IV of the ''Road Traffic Act, 1961''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1961/act/24/enacted/en/html |title=Road Traffic Act, 1961 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> This repealed the 1933 Act and allowed the Minister for the Environment to prescribe a general speed limit through regulations made under this Act. It also allowed local authorities to specify special speed limits through regulations made under this Act. The first regulations made were the ''Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Regulations, 1963'' which set down a speed limit of {{convert|50|mph|abbr=on}} for all roads except those subject to a built up area speed limit of {{convert|30|mph|abbr=on}} or special speed limit of {{convert|40|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1963/si/18/made/en/print |title=Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Regulations, 1963 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> Throughout the mid to late 1960s local authorities studied roads in their areas and had regulations drafted specifically for their county which prescribed speed limits of {{convert|30|mph|abbr=on}} and {{convert|40|mph|abbr=on}} along specifically named roads in their administrative area.

On 1 April 1969 the Minister for the Environment through the ''Road Traffic (General Speed Limit) Regulations, 1969'' finally prescribed a general national speed limit of {{convert|60|mph|abbr=on}} on all roads except those subject to special and built up area speed limits of {{convert|40|mph|abbr=on}} and {{convert|30|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1969/si/45/made/en/print |title=Road Traffic (General Speed Limit) Regulations, 1969 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> This replaced the {{convert|50|mph|abbr=on}} speed limit in all but a few cases where regulations had been drafted specifically to impose a {{convert|50|mph|abbr=on}} limit. While the built up area and special speed limits were clearly indicated to motorists by the number 30, 40 or 50 in black numbers on a white circular background with a red outline, there was no such signage for the general {{convert|60|mph|abbr=on}} speed limit. This was indicated to motorists by a "general speed limit" applies sign which consisted of a circular white sign with a black diagonal line bisecting it. The general limit was reduced to {{convert|55|mph|abbr=on}} in 1979 as an [[energy conservation]] measure during the [[1979 energy crisis]].<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1979/si/176/made/en/print |title=Road Traffic (General Speed Limit) Regulations, 1979 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1979-05-15/14/#spk_311 |title=Dáil Éireann – Volume 314: Private Notice Question. – Oil Supplies |pages=560 |quote=This country is particularly affected by the present oil shortage ... The Government have, therefore, decided ... that the maximum speed limit on any road shall be 55 mph. |first=Desmond |last=O'Malley|authorlink=Desmond O'Malley |date=1979-05-15 |accessdate=6 March 2025}}</ref> Some drivers remained unaware of this change.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-07-01/15/ |title=Dáil Éireann – Volume 433: Road Traffic Bill, 1993: Second Stage (Resumed). |page=921 |quote=Their 1992 survey showed up interesting attitudinal facts. 54 per cent of drivers correctly stated that the general speed limit was 55 miles per hour; 30 per cent believed the limit was higher than 55 miles per hour and 12 per cent believed it was less. This is an area of confusion as many people do not know the speed limit.|authorlink=Liz O'Donnell |first=Liz |last=O'Donnell |date= 1993-07-01 |accessdate=6 March 2025}}</ref> A review of speed limits from 1990 to 1992 restored the 60&nbsp;mph limit.<ref>
{{cite web|first=Séamus |last=Brennan |authorlink=Séamus Brennan |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-10-24/102/ |title=Dáil Éireann – Volume 556: Written Answers. – Road Safety. |date=24 October 2002 |pages=442 |quote=A comprehensive review of speed limits was carried out in Ireland between 1990 and 1992. This left urban speed limits unchanged at 30 mph and 40 mph, but increased the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles from 40 mph to 50 mph and the general speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph. |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/si/194/made/en/print |title=Road Traffic (General and Ordinary Speed Limits) Regulations, 1992 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref>

It was not until 1992 that a 70&nbsp;mph (113&nbsp;km/h) speed limit was authorised on the State's motorways. This occurred through the ''Road Traffic (Speed Limits) (County of Kildare) (Amendment) Regulations, 1992'' and the similar ''Road Traffic (Speed Limits) (County Borough of Dublin and County of Dublin) (Amendment) Regulations, 1992''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/si/196/made/en/print |title=Road Traffic (Speed Limits) (County of Kildare) (Amendment) Regulations, 1992 |publisher=Irish Statute Book}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/si/195/made/en/print |title=Road Traffic (Speed Limits) (County Borough of Dublin and County of Dublin) (Amendment) Regulations, 1992 |publisher=Irish Statute Book}}</ref> This authorised traffic on the [[M1 motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M1]], [[M7 motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M7]], [[N11 road (Ireland)|M11]] and [[M50 motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M50]] to travel at 70&nbsp;mph (113&nbsp;km/h) where signposted. This was extended to motorways in general by the ''Road Traffic Act, 1994''.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1994/act/7/section/31/enacted/en/html |title=Road Traffic Act, 1994 – Section 31 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |accessdate=2024-11-10}}</ref> A minimum speed limit of {{convert|30|mph|abbr=on}} had previously been set in 1974.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

On 20 January 2005, Ireland adopted metric speed limits.<ref>{{cite web |title=International experience |url=https://ukma.org.uk/road-signage/international-experience/#ireland |website=UK Metric Association |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> Around 35,000 existing signs were replaced and a further 23,000 new signs erected bearing the speed limit in kilometres per hour. To avoid confusion with the old signs, each speed limit sign now has "km/h" beneath the numerals.

[[File:80kmh speed limit sign with speed camera indicator in Balbriggan, North Co. Dublin.jpg|alt=80kmh speed sign|thumb|80&nbsp;km/h speed sign with an additional sign which indicates that this section of road is patrolled for speeding]]
In February 2012 [[Leo Varadkar]], then [[Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport]], tasked a working group with reviewing speed-limit policy and implementation.<ref name="slr2013">{{cite web |date=November 2013 |title=2013 Speed Limit Review |url=https://www.speedlimits.ie/slr-2013 |website=speedlimits.ie |publisher=Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref>{{rp|p=i}} Its report, published in 2013, identified two key issues: inconsistency of limits between similar roads, and inappropriateness of limits on some roads.<ref name=slr2013 />{{rp|iii}} It found the default limits were unsafely high on many minor roads where they applied. It recommended the introduction of a "rural speed limit" sign, to emphasise that the statutory maximum speed was not necessarily a safe speed. 

===Rural speed limit sign===
The rural speed limit sign consists of a 450mm diameter white disk with a black border and oblique parallel black bars (not to be confused with the "end of speed limit" sign in existence in Ireland prior to the 2004 ''Road Traffic Act'', nor the "end of previously signed restrictions" sign used in mainland Europe). The design was chosen in order to remove the "visual target"; nevertheless, the sign still indicates a legal speed limit of {{convert|60|km/h|abbr=on}} (having previously indicated a speed limit of {{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}} until 7 February 2025). The sign, in combination with a [[Road signs in Ireland#Supplementary plate|supplementary plate]] (bilingually reading SLOW and {{lang|ga|Go Mall}}), was introduced in 2015 with the publication of the ''Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2015|title=Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland|url=https://44903b75-2c7b-4538-970a-73496c4fe56b.filesusr.com/ugd/971679_1d14f0eefdcc426785d3dd1058a33ae6.pdf|publisher=Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport|website=speedlimits.ie}}</ref> It can only be used on single-lane [[Local roads in Ireland|local tertiary roads]] and selected single-lane local secondary roads and not on national, regional, or local primary roads.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trafficsigns.ie/tsan-cir?pgid=kw29roar-45a8a4a7-a644-4349-91cd-a099a63da0a6 |title=The 60 km/h Rural Speed Limit Sign |website=trafficsigns.ie |publisher=Department of Transport |date=January 2025}}</ref>

==Signs==
<gallery>
File:IE road sign RUS-065.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-044.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-064.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-043.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-042.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-041.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-040.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-039.svg
File:IE road sign RUS-042A + P-080.svg
</gallery>

===Historic signs===
<gallery>
File:IE road sign RUS-022 (1997–2004).svg
File:IE road sign RUS-023 (1997–2004).svg
File:IE road sign RUS-024 (1997–2004).svg
File:IE road sign RUS-025 (1956–2004).svg
</gallery>

==Ordinary speed limits==
[[File:Flatout 100, S-Bends in Ireland.jpg|thumb|100 km/h sign on a national route]]
Different default speed limits apply to particular categories of roads. Default speed limits are termed as "ordinary speed limits" by the ''Road Traffic Act 2004''. There are also speed restrictions for certain classes of vehicles. Speed limits for national secondary roads and in built-up areas are due to decrease later in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Policy Background |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c85e2-policy-background/ |website=gov.ie |date=24 January 2025 |publisher=Department of Transport |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref> As of February 2025, following the enactment of the ''Road Traffic Act 2024'', the ordinary speed limits are as follows:
*{{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}} for [[motorway]]s
*{{convert|100|km/h|abbr=on}} for national routes ([[National Primary Route|primary]] and [[National Secondary Route|secondary]]) that are not motorway status.
*{{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}} for [[Regional road (Ireland)|regional roads]].
*{{convert|60|km/h|abbr=on}} for [[Local Roads in Ireland|local roads]].
*{{convert|50|km/h|abbr=on}} in built up areas.

==Special speed limits==
[[File:Irish 30 kph speed limit sign and warning two-way traffic sign.jpg|thumb|30 km/h sign]]
*{{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}} (for select dual carriageways forming part of a national road only)
*{{convert|60|km/h|abbr=on}}
*{{convert|40|km/h|abbr=on}}
*{{convert|30|km/h|abbr=on}}

There are particular powers available to local [[county council]]s under the ''Road Traffic Act 2004'' to apply "special speed limits" to particular stretches of road.<ref name=rta2004 /> Special speed limits of 30, 50, 60, 80, 100 and 120&nbsp;km/h (19, 31, 37, 50, 62 and 75&nbsp;mph) can be imposed, but only 30 and 60&nbsp;km/h (19 and 37&nbsp;mph) are exclusively "special" as opposed to the others which are "ordinary". The {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}} limit is ordinary for motorways but can be special for [[dual carriageway]]s forming part of a national primary road. Special speed limits are usually lower than normal, for schools, etc. One instance of higher speed limits being applied is that of the [[N2 road (Ireland)|N2 route]] from the [[M50 motorway (Ireland)|M50 motorway]] in [[Fingal]] to north of [[Ashbourne, County Meath|Ashbourne]], [[County Meath]] where a special speed limit of 120&nbsp;km/h (75&nbsp;mph) was imposed from 15 June 2006, therefore becoming the first non-motorway road in Ireland to obtain this speed limit, prior to being designated a motorway itself. The 2004 Act has therefore allowed local authorities to get around such issues as the implications of motorway restrictions on learner drivers as under this act such drivers are now permitted to travel at speeds up to {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}} on such roads. The N1 dual carriageway north of Dundalk has also recently{{when|date=February 2025}} been granted a special speed limit of {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}}, in line with its preceding M1 motorway. As of 2 March 2007, Cork County Council and Limerick city and county councils have published amendments to local bye-laws to adjust several [[high-quality dual carriageway]]s' speed limits to {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cn|date=February 2025}} An amendment to the ''Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations'' in 2012 allowed a new speed limit of {{convert|40|km/h|abbr=on}} to be applied by a city or county council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/si/0331.html|title=S.I. No. 331/2012 – Road Traffic (Signs) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.|publisher=Irish Statute Book}}</ref>

==Cautionary speed limits==
[[File:IE road sign P-011.svg|thumb|Cautionary speed limit sign]]
The Minister for Transport issued a direction to road authorities under section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 in February 2007 with respect to a range of non-regulatory traffic signs.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Chapter 8 of the ''Traffic Signs Manual'' was superseded by an updated version which allowed for the erection of signage stating a cautionary speed limit in the vicinity of road works. These speed limits are purposely different from legally enforceable speed limits and always display a speed limit that ends in 5; they are – {{Convert|25|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|35|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|45|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|55|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and {{Convert|75|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The sign&mdash;a supplementary plate&mdash;is used in addition to a warning sign, namely the "start of road works", "loose chippings' and "slippery road" signs. Outside of road works, the sign may be used with the "loop" or "slippery road" warning signs where the danger may not be apparent to drivers. They are not legally binding on motorists or legally enforceable by the Garda Síochána and it is not known if 'compliance' with these cautionary speed limits is taken into account in the event of a road traffic collision; however, motorists must always drive at a speed appropriate to the prevailing conditions whilst not exceeding the speed limit.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Road Safety Authority|date=2010|title=Rules of The Road|url=https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/road-safety/r1---rules-of-the-road/ruleoftheroad_book-for-web.pdf|website=rsa.ie|page=9}}</ref>

==Road works speed limits==
The manager of a city or county council can reduce the speed limit on a road undergoing road works for a stated period of time by executive order under powers available to them under the ''Road Traffic Act 2004''. The reduced speed limits are typically 30, 50 or 90&nbsp;km/h (19, 31 or 56&nbsp;mph). These are different from cautionary speed limits as they are binding on drivers and it is an offence to exceed a road works speed limit.

==See also==
*[[Road signs in Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Europe topic|Speed limits in}}

[[Category:Roads in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Road transport in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Speed limits by country|Ireland]]