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RSA calls for 30km/h speed limit

Road Safety Authority wants a 30km/h limit in all towns and cities.

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The Road Safety Authority has suggested that all towns and cities in Ireland should be covered by a blanket 30km/h speed limit. The call, according to the RSA's Chief Executive, Moyagh Murdock, will not only protect pedestrians but could also help boost tourism by the positive image it would portray.

With the exception of very built-up areas the general speed limit in towns and cities is 50km/h. Studies show that a pedestrian being hit by a car at this speed leaves them with only a 50 per cent chance of survival, while being hit at 60km/h lowers this to just 10 per cent.

Ms. Murdock said: "30km/h should be the default position", adding that lower speed limits in other countries had proven to be successful in reducing accidents. Ireland isn't alone in calling for lower speed limits in built-up areas, Paris is expected to introduce a 30km/h limit on its streets by 2020.

There is a further argument that lowering the speed limits would encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto bicycles. From a tourism perspective Ms. Murdoch suggested that visitors may be more inclined to visit these shores for walking or cycling tours if Ireland is seen as a country with safer roads.

The debate over speed limits and attitudes towards road safety in general continues to be a topic of divided opinions, some of which was highlighted in a recent column by CompleteCar's Road Test Editor, Dave Humphreys.

Despite the clear evidence that lowering speed limits in these areas would reduce the number of death and injuries there is no set timeline for these to be brought in.

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Published on April 20, 2016