Our Motoring Editor Answers Your Questions About Speed Limits

Speed limits play a crucial role in ensuring road safety and are set by the Department of Transport. There are five different types of speed limits applicable to various road types across the country:

• Motorways: 120 km/h
• National roads: 100 km/h
• Regional roads: 80 km/h
• Urban areas: 50 km/h
• Special limits applied in certain areas, such as schools: 30 km/h

These speed limits are defined under the Road Traffic Act of 2004, with room for local authorities to set special limits within their areas to address local needs and conditions.

The government is now working on implementing reduced speed limits in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. According to the latest proposals, speed limits will be reduced to 80 km/h on national secondary roads, 60 km/h on local and rural roads, and 30 km/h in towns, cities, and residential areas.

Local authorities will have the discretion to revise limits upwards on specific roads where safety standards and good design exist, as stated by the Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers.

One common question that arises is whether lower speed limits will increase journey times. In France, for instance, opposition was met when the standard speed limit was lowered from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on certain rural roads. However, the increase in travel time after the implementation of the measure was only one second per kilometer driven on average. To lose just five minutes, one would need to drive a considerable 300 kilometers.

It is important to understand how reducing vehicle speeds can significantly decrease the likelihood of a crash. In fact, if the average speed dropped by just 1 km/h on all European roads, an estimated 2,100 lives could be saved each year.

Here’s an interesting tip: The energy of a crash is directly related to the square of the velocity. This means that even small increases in speed can lead to major increases in the risk of injury. For example, at 30 km/h, 90% of pedestrians hit by a car survive. However, at 45 km/h, the survival rate drops to less than half.

If you have any questions or would like further information on speed limits, feel free to email us at [email protected]. Our motoring editor is here to provide expert answers.

Reference

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