Motorists in Killarney and throughout the county have been reminded that the speed limit on rural, local roads had changed from 80 km/h to 60 km/h from this Friday.
The roads impacted are designated with an ‘L’ followed by a number or do not have a number.
The change in speed limit on many rural local roads also changes the meaning of the rural speed limit sign which is a black circle with diagonal black lines and is in use internationally.
Reducing speed limits is part of the Government’s road safety strategy and it is one of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect all road users.
Kerry County Council has received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads sand the ‘rural speed limit’ sign now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force.
The Department of Transport has been working closely with An Garda Síochána, along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60 km/h limit is enforced.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said: “Today’s speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives.
“Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable – they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries”.
The switch from 80km/h to 60km/h on rural, local roads is the only change occurring on the road network this Friday. There is no proposal to reduce the default speed limit on regional roads – designated with an R followed by a number – which will remain at 80km/hr.
Future implementation phases will focus on the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, reducing to 30 km/h.
The speed limit on national secondary roads is recommended to reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h. Experience from this phase will be used to inform the rollout of subsequent phases on other road categories.
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