New speed limits: What are they and when are they coming in?

Michael Bolton

Speed limits are being reduced on Irish roads in a bid to tackle deaths across the country.

From Friday, February 7th, speed limits on rural local roads will decrease from 80km/h to 60km/h.

Later in the year, the speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h.

The speed limit in urban cores will be reduced from 50km/h to 30km/h.

The meaning of the rural speed limit sign, which is a white circle with three diagonal black lines, will also change from 80km/h to 60km/h.

If you are caught driving over the speed limit, you will get three penalty points and a fixed charge fine of €160.

If you do not pay the fine within 28 days, it increases to €240, and if this increased fine is not paid, you will be summonsed to court.

If convicted, you could be fined up to €1,000 and receive up to five penalty points.

You can avoid going to court by paying €320 (twice the sum of the original fine) no later than 7 days before the court date specified in the summons.

Some 174 people lost their lives on the country’s roads in 2024, while 180 people died in 2023.

The Government’s current road safety strategy focuses on achieving ‘Vision Zero’ – zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2050.

The speed limit changes follow a number of key recommendations from the Speed Limit Review, which was undertaken by the Department for Transport in 2023.

It was part of the last Programme for Government.

It was overseen by the Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority and included representatives from An Garda Síochána, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the City & County Management Association.