Speed limits in Waterford being drastically cut with some roads to go to 30km/h

Speed limits on rural roads in Waterford and across the country are changing with drastic cuts also planned for urban centres over the coming months.

The first of these changes will come into effect this Friday, February 7, when default speed limits on rural local roads will decrease from 80km/h to 60km/h.

"New speed limit signs will replace existing ones to reflect this change. The meaning of the Rural Speed Limit sign (a white circle with three diagonal black lines) will change from 80km/h to 60km/h as well," the Department of Transport has said.

Later in 2025, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will reduce to 30km/h from 50km/h. The speed limit on national secondary roads will also reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

"Introducing more consistent and appropriate speed limits will help to improve road safety in Ireland," the Department says.

"These changes are being made under the Road Traffic Act 2024. The Act follows a number of key recommendations from the Speed Limit Review, which was undertaken by the Department in 2023."

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The changes have not been universally welcomed with some motorists and politicians saying the changes will be inappropriate on some routes.

In Laois for example, one councillor Paddy Bracken called it a "disaster" because people won't know there is a change.

"It's going to increase speeds. People will drive what way they want, there is nothing to indicate anything has changed. I think it's a bad move by the department," he said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley was unhappy at not being informed in their Municipal District meetings.

"I am shocked it's going live. Local democratically elected councillors haven't had an opportunity to put their piece in. The least the department should have done was meet us," she said.