Blanket speed limit of 30km/h to come into effect in housing estates

By Mary Dennehy

A SPEED limit of 30km/h is being introduced into all housing estates across South Dublin County and will be effective from May 8 – with the local authority currently installing 600 new signs at a cost of €200,000.

In council chambers in March, elected representatives voted in favour of reducing the speed limit in residential areas from 50km/h to 30km/h following the compilation of a report called the Draft Speed Limit By-Law Review – which looked at speed limits countywide.

Draft By-Laws and accompanying maps were on display to the public between September 27 to November 1, with all submissions made by members of the public during this time fed into the report, alongside submissions made from councillors and public bodies, such as Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Proposals to reduce speed limits in housing estates came about after the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport released in March 2015 a document called Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland.

The Department’s document was only a ‘guideline’ and each local authority retained the power to determine the speeds in housing estates – with South Dublin County Council proposing a blanket introduction of a 30km/h speed limit for estates within its region, which has been passed.

The council has started installing poles around the county for the introduction of 600 new signs, which will be covered until the new bye-law comes into effect on May 8.

Laura Leonard, Senior Executive Officer with the council, said: “The council has introduced a blanket speed limit of 30km/h across all residential estates in the county.

“The new speed limit is also creating the concept of slow zones and the new signage is quite prominent and also incorporates the ‘children at play’ signs.

“We always have residents calling for ‘children at play’ signs and usually have a backlog of requests.

“However, this new signage will mean that all estates are getting new slow zone signage, which will encourage drivers to slow down and be aware of children playing.”

It will cost the council around €200,000 to roll out the 600 new signs, €30,000 of which was received through a grant.

Ms Leonard confirmed that the signage will be located at the entrance of each estate and depending on the layout of each area, additional signage may be required.

The council confirmed that there has not been any other significant changes to the existing speed limits across the county other than, following representations from elected members, a drop from 50km/h to 30km/h in the areas of Chapel Hill in Lucan, Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, and Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown Village.

The Speed Limit Bye Laws must now be reviewed every five years.