Motorway speed limits in Ireland

Commotion Ocean · 01-11-2016 09:35PM #1

After reading the thread about the lad who pretended to be driving 151 km/h without insurance and seeing the outrage from people about how "fast" he was going, I thought we could have a reasoned debate on increasing Ireland's Motorway speed limit. This doesn't seem to have been done in a while.

Ireland's motorways are among the newest in Europe. We really only began to get a proper motorway network in the noughties (I began driving in 2009). Our motorways are new, well-surfaced, have excellent drainage and are in excellent condition.

I've been on motorways in Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the UK, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. Ireland's motorways are even better than some of the aforementioned countries, believe it or not!

It is my opinion that you can be "speeding" without breaking the speed limit and you can break the speed limit without "speeding".

Allow me to elaborate. In the former situation, imagine a small country road which passes by a rural school, the speed limit on the road is 80 km/h. If I drive at that speed past the school at 2.30 in the afternoon, I'm not breaking the speed limit, but it may be considered "speeding".

In the latter situation, there could be a stretch of a perfectly-good N-Road, where the speed limit drops arbitrarily from 100 km/h to 60 km/h. If I continue on at 100 km/h and go with the flow of everyone else, I'm not "speeding" but I am breaking the speed limit.

By the logic of the government, if you don't follow the posted speed limit, you are speeding. You can drive 100 km/h on the M50 and weave in and out of traffic in 5 inches of snow with driving sleet and visibility of only a few metres, but, hey .... you're under the limit, so you're grand ..... but if you dare do 121 km/h on a dry, open motorway, you'd better hand over your license.

It is my opinion as well, that a mismatch in speed also causes disturbances. Unless you are limited to a certain speed or there is a good reason not to, there is no reason why you shouldn't be travelling at 120 km/h.

It is my opinion, that if certain transgressions were eliminated from our roads, such as poor merging and bad lane discipline, our speed limits could be subject to a modest increase.

Guy:Incognito · 01-11-2016 09:39PM

The quality of the motorways is pretty irrelevant when the standard of drivers is poor.Everyone thinks they are a good driver but tbh, since I've been on the road all day for work the last few years it's glaringly apparent how bad quite a high percentage of drivers (Dublin and surrounding counties is where I am all day) are. Be it through ignorance , selfishness or just not having a clue what the hell they are at.

dfeo wrote: »

By the logic of the government, if you don't follow the posted speed limit, you are speeding. You can drive 100 km/h on the M50 and weave in and out of traffic in 5 inches of snow with driving sleet and visibility of only a few metres, but, hey .... you're under the limit, so you're grand ..... but if you dare do 121 km/h on a dry, open motorway, you'd better hand over your license..

Thats called dangerous driving. You know there are other traffic offences yeah?

ThisRegard · 01-11-2016 09:42PM

dfeo wrote: »

It is my opinion as well, that a mismatch in speed also causes disturbances. Unless you are limited to a certain speed or there is a good reason not to, there is no reason why you shouldn't be travelling at 120 km/h.

This is where your logic is flawed. Driving below 120 doesn't cause disturbances, and people don't require a reason to do so.

Atlantic Dawn · 01-11-2016 09:50PM

I think before we do anything there should be an overtaking lane blitz by the Gardaí, the amount of backward thick people who still assume it's the "fast lane" is frightening.

sdanseo · 01-11-2016 09:53PM

Raise to 140 km/h

Ì'd be up for an immediate raise to 130km/h on more rural motorways.

However any further rise - much and as though I am of the opinion that faster speeds on motorways are NOT inherently more dangerous if traffic is relatively light - should be preceded by a driver education blitz and a massive crackdown on poor behaviour which isn't necessarily "dangerous".

Unfortunately, we don't see the problems on the roads here. We just default to "speed kills" and leave it there.

Four Phucs Ache · 01-11-2016 10:08PM

Raise to 140 km/h

Im all for raising it to max 130 but I'm quite content if it stays at 120.

The issue for me would be driver awareness/ control . It's a big job for the avg driver to control a car safely and to know how to handle the weight shifting / direction a wheel should be when things go wrong.At any higher than 120 - 130 the laws of physics plays a tougher game.

Isambard · 01-11-2016 10:10PM

Raise to 130 km/h

i voted 120 because there are a lot of people out there incompetent that I don't want to see driving quicker than they are now.

dr.fuzzenstein · 01-11-2016 10:18PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

This is where your logic is flawed. Driving below 120 doesn't cause disturbances, and people don't require a reason to do so.

Surprisingly I find myself agreeing. It is perfectly possible to drive slower and swim along with trucks and buses. The problem arises when granny in her Micra drives along at 80 km/h and forces trucks and buses to overtake her, this does cause quite a disturbance. Anyone who drives like this should be taken off the road.

Arcade_Tryer · 01-11-2016 10:20PM

dfeo wrote: »

Unless you are limited to a certain speed or there is a good reason not to, there is no reason why you shouldn't be travelling at 120 km/h.

A few good reasons you shouldn't be travelling at 120km/hr:

1. Safety - Yes, you may be quite safe travelling at 120km/hr and above on a motorway but that does not take away from the fact that driving more slowly is still safer in general e.g. between 90km/hr and 120km/hr.

2. Stressing the engine - for many cars, driving at 120km/hr for half an hour or more is needless stress on the engine.

3. Fuel cost - Following on from above, far more efficient to keep the revs down and your bank balance up.

Commotion Ocean · 01-11-2016 10:23PM

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

A few good reasons you shouldn't be travelling at 120km/hr:

1. Safety - Yes, you may be quite safe travelling at 120km/hr and above on a motorway but that does not take away from the fact that driving more slowly is still safer in general e.g. between 90km/hr and 120km/hr.

2. Stressing the engine - for many cars, driving at 120km/hr for half an hour or more is needless stress on the engine.

3. Fuel cost - Following on from above, far more efficient to keep the revs down and your bank balance up.

If any of those concern you, then get off the motorway.

Arcade_Tryer · 01-11-2016 10:24PM

Isambard wrote: »

i voted 120 because there are a lot of people out there incompetent that I don't want to see driving quicker than they are now.

Four Phucs Ache wrote: »

Im all for raising it to max 130 but I'm quite content if it stays at 120.

The issue for me would be driver awareness/ control . It's a big job for the avg driver to control a car safely and to know how to handle the weight shifting / direction a wheel should be when things go wrong.At any higher than 120 - 130 the laws of physics plays a tougher game.

This sense of superiority and lack of self reflection shown above is why I'd like to see speed limits remain the same on motorways.

Arcade_Tryer · 01-11-2016 10:26PM

dfeo wrote: »

If any of those concern you, then get off the motorway.

No.

If safety doesn't concern you, get off the road.

Vic_08 · 01-11-2016 10:28PM

dfeo wrote: »

If any of those concern you, then get off the motorway.

As bad as the slow is better brigade are on the motorway, they are an absolute menace on single carriage roadways.

artanevilla · 01-11-2016 10:29PM

dfeo wrote: »

If any of those concern you, then get off the motorway.

You ask for a reasoned debate and then post this?

Isambard · 01-11-2016 10:31PM

Raise to 130 km/h

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

This sense of superiority and lack of self reflection shown above is why I'd like to see speed limits remain the same on motorways.

hi Pot, it's me , the Kettle

pa990 · 01-11-2016 10:37PM

Raise to 140 km/h

There is little or no speed enforcement on Irish roads.

100, 120, 130 , 150.

You're unlikely to be caught.

Take your chances

Last xmas eve, I aledegly drove cork to dub at a constant 160km/h+

Used a lot of fuel, and only met a garda speed van near rathcoole.
A quick dab of the brakes, and off I go again.

Similar return journey., but no speed van.

CiniO · 01-11-2016 10:45PM

Remove limit altogether with dynamic speed limit signs where necessary

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

A few good reasons you shouldn't be travelling at 120km/hr:

1. Safety - Yes, you may be quite safe travelling at 120km/hr and above on a motorway but that does not take away from the fact that driving more slowly is still safer in general e.g. between 90km/hr and 120km/hr.

2. Stressing the engine - for many cars, driving at 120km/hr for half an hour or more is needless stress on the engine.

3. Fuel cost - Following on from above, far more efficient to keep the revs down and your bank balance up.

What do you mean by that?
How exactly are you stressing the engine by driving at higher speeds?
To be honest, it can only do good for an engine if it runs at higher steady revs. In diesels it can clear out the soot and carbon residue, and allow DPF regen, and in petrols it can also clear out carbon residue from oil and possibly have other positive effects.

With fuel consumption - obviously true.
Generally in most cars fuel consumption rises very quick above 120km/h and pretty much skyrockets above 160km/h.

If I remember correctly my Civic diesel, was about 5l/100km at 100km/h, 5.5l/100km at 120km/h, 6.5l/100km at 140km/h, around 8l/100km at 160km/h, and around 12l/100km at 200km/h.
All those measured at steady speed driving on cruise control for longer periods, but I'm not sure if I got the figures right - I used to remember what they were.
But it's close to that anyway,

BTW - I voted for 160km/h limit. It's reasonable one.
I find driving above 160km/h very demanding and needing extreme concentration. An hour or two at 200km/h I'm more tired that 8 hours driving at 140km/h.

dr.fuzzenstein · 01-11-2016 10:47PM

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

A few good reasons you shouldn't be travelling at 120km/hr:

1. Safety - Yes, you may be quite safe travelling at 120km/hr and above on a motorway but that does not take away from the fact that driving more slowly is still safer in general e.g. between 90km/hr and 120km/hr.

2. Stressing the engine - for many cars, driving at 120km/hr for half an hour or more is needless stress on the engine.

3. Fuel cost - Following on from above, far more efficient to keep the revs down and your bank balance up.

1: agree to a point. If you force buses and trucks to overtake you on the motorway you are a danger and should stick to B roads. But slow does not equal safe. Paying attention is always better than simply driving slow.

2: Stressing the engine? What do you drive? A 1950's car? I drive the wife's car (a Chevy Spark) and my mother's car (Renault Twingo). Both are fine at 120 km/h (and no problem up to 140). If it's no problem in those juice boxes, you ain't got no excuse.

3: Fuel costs. My Cmax returned over 50 miles to the gallon at 130.

Again, I don't think 100 on the motorway is a bad thing but 80 is stupid and dangerous. And 140 is no problem whatsoever in the right circumstances.

jay93 · 01-11-2016 10:47PM

Raise to 130 km/h

The speed limit is lower here in the US it's 112Km/h if you convert 70Mph not that many people follow that anyway..

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 01-11-2016 10:48PM

150kph is perfectly fine on the motorways.... Just not with other drivers around you. The standard of Irish driving especially on motorways is scandalous. Can anyone merge properly...? Too many drivers sitting in the overtaking lane at 100kph. Unnecessary speeding up and slowing down. Trucks pulled into the hard shoulder... My list is endless.

01-11-2016 10:51PM

Raise to 150 km/h

27% of us think it should be 140kmh.
Sensible.

_Kaiser_ · 01-11-2016 11:02PM

Raise to 150 km/h

Voted for 140 myself. As someone who spends a lot of time on the motorway, it's a far more appropriate speed for the quieter stretches (not talking about the likes of the M50 or N7 here) and not as demanding as driving at higher speeds, so a decent compromise. Of course, a decent, well-maintained car that the driver knows the characteristics of is even more important.

As for the notion about stressing engines at 120, driving slower than that, and saving fuel... if those are your concerns and if you find yourself being overtaken constantly by cars and even trucks then you should stick to the secondary routes TBH because you're not qualified to be on a motorway as it is.

Ferrari3600 · 01-11-2016 11:13PM

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

2. Stressing the engine - for many cars, driving at 120km/hr for half an hour or more is needless stress on the engine.

I really doubt this.

And no, contrary to what my user name might suggest, I don't drive a Ferrari 360. I drive a car with a decent block under the bonnet, but even for the average 1.1L Econoboxes, if the engine can't perform adequately at 120km/hr (only 75mph in old money), they shouldn't be on the market if you ask me. 20 years ago or so, I regularly drove a Mk1 1.0L Micra at a steady 80mph on the M50.

chicorytip · 01-11-2016 11:36PM

Decrease them to 110 km/h

120 K.P.H. or 75 M.P.H. is a dangerously high speed limit for roads such as the M7,M9 etc.which are, in effect, dual carriageways not motorways.
55 M.P.H. is a sufficiently progressive rate for all drivers to complete journeys on time and in a relaxed frame of mind.

Commotion Ocean · 01-11-2016 11:39PM

chicorytip wrote: »

120 K.P.H. or 75 M.P.H. is a dangerously high speed limit for roads such as the M7,M9 etc.which are, in effect, dual carriageways not motorways.
55 M.P.H. is a sufficiently progressive rate for all drivers to complete journeys on time and in a relaxed frame of mind.

LOL

_Kaiser_ · 02-11-2016 12:26AM

Raise to 150 km/h

chicorytip wrote: »

120 K.P.H. or 75 M.P.H. is a dangerously high speed limit for roads such as the M7,M9 etc.which are, in effect, dual carriageways not motorways.
55 M.P.H. is a sufficiently progressive rate for all drivers to complete journeys on time and in a relaxed frame of mind.

You what now?

The motorways in this country are (for the most part) one of the few key pieces of infrastructure that we did right. They're good quality and statistically the safest types of road we have.

YOU may feel that 120 km/h is "dangerously high" but you are in the minority I'm afraid. I'll grant you though that it's a significant minority as I encounter like-minded individuals daily who dawdle along oblivious (usually in the incorrect lane) holding other traffic up and slowing things further when that other traffic has to move around them.

It doesn't help of course that learner drivers have no (structured) experience of motorway driving before they get their license but to suggest that we should all dawdle along at 85-90 km/h to make nervous, hesitant drivers feel "safer" is ridiculous.

As I said above, there's secondary routes where these folks can work away - although they often can't manager to even do the 80/100 there either!

Dartz · 02-11-2016 12:28AM

chicorytip wrote: »

120 K.P.H. or 75 M.P.H. is a dangerously high speed limit for roads such as the M7,M9 etc.which are, in effect, dual carriageways not motorways.
55 M.P.H. is a sufficiently progressive rate for all drivers to complete journeys on time and in a relaxed frame of mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k

Most people aren't suicidal idiots and will chortle along at whatever speed feels safe for them, regardless of what the limit is.

The ones that don't can still get nailed for dangerous, careless or reckless driving.

****canning the speed limit removes the ability to automate the 'service' however....

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 02-11-2016 12:34AM

chicorytip wrote: »

120 K.P.H. or 75 M.P.H. is a dangerously high speed limit for roads such as the M7,M9 etc.which are, in effect, dual carriageways not motorways.
55 M.P.H. is a sufficiently progressive rate for all drivers to complete journeys on time and in a relaxed frame of mind.

55mph. Really. Elaborate please.

Four Phucs Ache · 02-11-2016 12:36AM

Raise to 140 km/h

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

This sense of superiority and lack of self reflection shown above is why I'd like to see speed limits remain the same on motorways.

Self reflection ?

If I come across a bit of debris on the m7 at night in a theoretical speed limit of 140 to 160 while driving alongside a car doing similar the sky would turn brown and no mans boxers need to see that sh1t

road_high · 02-11-2016 12:44AM

Remove limit altogether with dynamic speed limit signs where necessary

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

A few good reasons you shouldn't be travelling at 120km/hr:

1. Safety - Yes, you may be quite safe travelling at 120km/hr and above on a motorway but that does not take away from the fact that driving more slowly is still safer in general e.g. between 90km/hr and 120km/hr.

2. Stressing the engine - for many cars, driving at 120km/hr for half an hour or more is needless stress on the engine.

3. Fuel cost - Following on from above, far more efficient to keep the revs down and your bank balance up.

Is this for real? Scary to think you are out there somewhere with a full licence and driving...

Nelbert · 02-11-2016 12:47AM

Biggest stumbling block is driver education in my opinion.

I've driven a lot for work over the last 7-8 years (as well as driving for long trips on a couple of foreign holidays, west coast of states was fun!) and as a generalisation Irish motorists don't know how to use motorways (which we are lucky to have a good standard network of) properly....

The "fast lane" mentality etc. The simple idea of keep left unless overtaking is almost universally ignored. Use of indicators and merging is horrifically lacking and / or dangerous at times.
Unfortunately the end result is usually what we all see on the M50 at peak times in the right hand lane, 100+kph traffic closer to the car in front than some people can manage to park.

I'd be all for increasing to 140 but in general I think it would be unwise and unsafe because I don't think we've enough drivers competent enough.

Motorway speed limits in Ireland

Would you be in favour of amending our national speed limits? 333 votes

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