EXPLAINER: What Leitrim drivers need to know about speed limit changes

Speed limits on local rural roads across Ireland will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h this Friday, February 7, as part of the Government’s ‘Slower Speeds, Safer Roads’ initiative.

In 2024, 174 people lost their lives on Irish roads, and 15 have died as of February 5 this year. Nearly three quarters of road deaths between 2020 and 2024 occurred on rural roads with speed limits of 80km/h or greater.

The affected roads, marked with ‘L’ on maps are predominantly remote, and the change is not expected to significantly impact traffic or commute times.

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

Local roads can only retain the 80 km/h limit if they meet specific criteria. 

One of these criteria is that the road must be wider than 5.5 metres and must have a limited number of junctions. 

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Additionally, roads with poor horizontal alignment or those designated for vulnerable users, such as cyclists or pedestrians, are also prohibited from retaining the 80 km/h limit.

In Leitrim, 16 rural roads met the width requirement of being over 5.5 metre, but none met enough of the necessary criteria to remain at 80 km/h.

Therefore, Leitrim County Council determined in October of last year that the speed limit for all local rural roads in the county will change at 60 km/h, and no additional bylaws are necessary.

Funding is being provided by the Department of Transport for new speed signs.

This change was originally to begin at the end of November 2024; however, due to a nationwide delay in obtaining road sign poles, it was postponed until February.

Later this year, the speed limit in built-up areas, including housing estates and town centres, will be reduced to 30km/h.

A further reduction is also expected on national roads, lowering the limit from 100km/h to 80km/h.

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