On Friday, February 7th, the Department of Transport introduced a new reduced speed limit for local rural roads in Ireland. Andrea Beyer-Fraile weighs in on the “Slower Speeds, Safer Roads” initiative, discussing whether the revised speed limit is a sustainable solution for road safety or a mere quick fix.
“One of my friends passed away a few months ago in a road accident. I guess the randomness of it really got to me.”
“Seeing the impact of his loss on our friend group especially… I don’t know how to phrase it… When you see the human impact of one of these serious collisions, it makes you think about road safety in a way you hadn’t previously.”
Thomas West (he/him), a Master’s student in the school of history at UCD, lost one of his close friends in a fatal road collision last year. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Thomas for the University Observer to discuss his opinion on the Department of Transports’ newly implemented speed reductions and their campaign “Slower Speeds, Safer Roads.”
On Friday, the 7th of February, ministers Sean Canney and Darragh O’Brien welcomed a new reduced speed limit to rural local roads across the country; the default was decreased from 80 to 60 kilometres per hour, with O’Brien emphasising, “Today’s speed limit reduction will save lives because driving slower saves lives.” The Road Safety Authority (RSA) concluded that in 2024, 174 traffic fatalities were recorded on Irish roads.
This new measure is in line with the Road Traffic Act 2024 and part of the Government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to reduce fatalities and injuries on Ireland’s roads by 50% by 2030. Further speed limit reductions are expected to follow suit, with urban core speeds being reduced to 30km/h and national secondary roads being amended to 80km/h.
Thomas favours the reduced speed limits, commenting on the apparent dangers of these roads; “It makes a lot of sense. I know driving down those rural roads feels incredibly dodgy. You naturally have to be more careful.” He also shared that although he had been aware of the upcoming speed reductions, he was unfamiliar with the “Slower Speeds, Safer Roads” campaign.
The initiative has been advertised through radio, online platforms, print media, and outdoor locations. Although effective, “Slower Speeds, Safer Roads” has not reached sufficient engagement among the younger generation of drivers. In a survey by the University Observer, which included over one hundred responses from the student body, we discovered that 45.5% of the students did not know of the new law enforcement on the roads, and 56.4%, like West, had not heard of the campaign at all.
Many of us, who might not interact with the likes of the radio or the online presence of the Department of Transport, can overlook road safety initiatives. Unfortunately, such campaigns don’t occupy much space in student conversations, as we tend to prioritise popular trends and debates on the rising cost of pints.
Perhaps we are at fault with this, and I would encourage everyone reading to actively advocate for road safety. This can look like, “Oh, you are driving home for the weekend. What does your typical drive look like? Keep in mind the new speed limit, and remember to stay alert and cautious on the roads.” This may seem unnatural initially, but such reminders actively integrate road safety awareness into our daily interactions.
A quick look at the dept_transport Instagram handle reveals two video promotions, accompanied by the tenet “Going slower significantly reduces the risk of death in a collision.” Although powerful, the reels leave much to be desired. Key questions remain unanswered: What are the statistics? How does reducing speed effectively lower the fatalities on the roads?
On the RSA website, one can find this information, where they state that At 80 km/h, 9 in 10 pedestrians will be killed if hit by a vehicle, whereas, at 60 km/h, this figure becomes 5 in 10, a substantial drop. Given the public’s reaction, with some drivers complaining about longer travel times, incorporating the information provided by the RSA into promotional clips or even in the captions section could resonate with those feeling frustrated by the changes.
The Department of Transport indicated that it has collaborated closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure the 60 km/h speed limit is upheld on rural roads. This is, undoubtedly, necessary to effectively implement the speed limit. However, many students in the survey emphasised that although the amendments are a step in the right direction, local garda will struggle to enforce them.
I have experienced the dangers of rural Irish roads firsthand; my family are based in Meath and face the daily challenge of commuting on narrow, poorly maintained routes that are characterised by limited visibility. A journey from Ashbourne to Garristown is marked by white-knuckled grips on handles and squinting eyes. Yet, everyone back home has adopted a “go out and get on with it!” attitude towards these journeys. The failure to acknowledge the apparent risks of the roads fosters a relaxed attitude toward speeding on them as well.
The process of attaining a learner's permit in Ireland is far too streamlined, where we do no more than download the RSA Theory test app, with only some opting for a trip to Easons for the physical book.
Conversations with my international friends revealed that, in countries like Portugal and Germany, the state mandates in-person lessons to educate aspiring drivers on road safety before they can take the theory exam. They were shocked to learn that in Ireland, we can simply book to sit the theory test to receive our learner's licence. For those familiar with the exam, regardless of the access to apps or books, the outcome of the Irish theory test often feels more like a game of chance than a measure of knowledge.
Thomas commented, "Prioritising safe driving makes the most sense, and a speed limit seems to be the easiest way of doing this.” Echoing this feeling, students referred to the new law as an “easy” and “lazy” measure to a plethora of larger problems, such as drunk driving and distractions on the road, where fatalities occur regardless of speed. There was a sense of resignation among the survey respondents, who believed that drivers would continue to speed recklessly on country roads. This flags an underlying issue, while speed and poor enforcement are certainly factors, careless driving stems from the individual. It is a dangerous intersection where both the public and the government must work to improve.
The speed reductions should not be viewed as a grandiose solution, but rather one of many. The Department of Transport recognises this in its aims, but its efforts to promote road safety through campaigns like “Slower Speeds, Safer Roads” seem to be falling short, especially among younger generations. As a result, we are often left to source our own information regarding road safety, which, unfortunately, is not a widespread practice. Let us change that.
When discussing Thomas’ experience of losing a friend to a road accident, he stated that, “Even if the reduced speed limit only minimises tragic accidents by a small fraction. It obviously makes sense.” My views align with his, as any measure to potentially save lives in our communities should be welcome.
I encourage you, dear reader, to take this message in, and spread awareness of the importance of road safety in your interactions with friends and family. Whether through subtle questions on their journeys or by speaking out against careless driving. The safety of our roads concerns us all and let us be mindful of the devastation that road accidents have had on our society. I urge those who are disappointed with the changes to view the speed reduction in rural roads as a positive measure, that does not stand alone, and our role in advocating for safer roads.