Motorway speed limits in Ireland

dr.fuzzenstein · 02-11-2016 12:33PM

drdeadlift wrote: »

Have seen the craziest **** on irish roads down the sticks to be honest.

Best I've seen was farmer with tractor and cattle trailer heading down the off ramp the wrong way onto the motorway, turn left and head back up the on ramp, basically he was using the motorway to make a u-turn. "Ah shure, begrandterfcuk"

Henry Ford III · 02-11-2016 01:55PM

Raise to 130 km/h

120kph is fine I think. It allows you make pretty rapid journeys. Lane discipline however......

Dempsey · 02-11-2016 02:02PM

Raise to 150 km/h

I'm guessing the reason why the gardai havent blitzed the m50, because they should, is that there is very few safe places to pull people into to issue the tickets and its a legitimate concern

flazio · 02-11-2016 02:03PM

Raise to 150 km/h

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Am i right in saying that your general rule of thumb in regards your current speed is to observe the speed limit and do just under this? Do you follow this rigidly?

Unlike yourself, I pretty much ignore speed limits, even though I am aware of them and do the speed I deem appropriate for that road and the conditions. The reason you may find tailgaters on your rear end regularly is likely due to poorly allocated speed limits; we all know roads where the speed limit is unfeasibly low, not to mention roads that are ridiculously high.

I obviously don't know you, and you may well be a good driver, but many a poster has posted in this forum before with a similar kind of vibe you're putting off that rubs people up the wrong way, something in the vein of "I do everything by the book and nothing else matters". I think if were more accepting of other road users, we'd all be better off.

And are you open to correction if the speed you deem worthy is wrong? Not saying you are wrong but I'm not saying you're right either. What qualifies you to know best.
Anyone actually take a look at WHY these cars and drivers you deem a nuisance are there in the first place? Perhaps it's the job they fought hard to get and the motorway is the only way they have enough time to get a healthy work/home balance while they save up to get a car they can afford to maintain on a motorway?
Perhaps they recently were in an accident or lost someone on the roads and need time to build their confidence up. Sadly not employers are understanding in these conditions and still demand you turn up for work.
These and many other reasons exist and it helps if you stop thinking about slow cars as mobile chicanes and remember there are people in there with lives and stories.
The Motorways are there for everyone. Get used to that.
(voted for an increase to 140km/h but wouldn't diss anyone for driving in their comfort zone)

Dempsey · 02-11-2016 02:14PM

Raise to 150 km/h

Regarding the speed limits I believe variable limits should be implemented.

140km/h is a reasonable limit in dry conditions and it gets reduced to 120km/h in wet/adverse conditions.

Henry Ford III · 02-11-2016 02:18PM

Raise to 130 km/h

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Most of the speed limits came about in the 60's and thus took into account the current state of car technology. We have moved on quite a bit since then...

Cars have for sure but what about driver ability and traffic density?

cruizer101 · 02-11-2016 02:33PM

Thought this might be relevant here, speed limits by country.

No Limit: Germany and it would seem part of Oz, wasn't aware of that.
140kmph 85mph: Poland, Texas and one or two other
130kmph 80mph: France, Italy, Austria, Russia, some other eastern European countries, Argentina and fair few others

So to be fair we're not that far behind, I really do think lane discipline needs to be sorted first, if that was sorted would see no issue with 140km/h limit
With regards to driving slower on Motorway I would regularly enough drive 100km/h and see no issue with it, sometimes I'm just not in much of a rush, and to be fair if everyone has good discipline it should cause more or less no delay to anyone as motorways are by their very nature designed to take vehicles of different speeds far better than national roads.

Henry Ford III · 02-11-2016 02:38PM

Raise to 130 km/h

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Advances in safety and tech make up for the first part. Second part I'll give you but sure the density of traffic means the average speeds are down I would have thought?

Average drivers at higher speeds will mean a higher number of accidents I'd say, and more severe injuries too.

Higher traffic density combined with increased speed limits coupled with my earlier remark regarding lane discipline would suggest to me that people would want to go faster and might doing silly/illegal/dangerous things to do so.

intellectual dosser · 02-11-2016 02:41PM

The idea of having variable limits based on traffic volumes or road conditions needs to be quashed quickly. You cant be wondering what a speed limit is every time you join a road you use frequently. It needs to be unison across the board like it is now.

Henry Ford III · 02-11-2016 02:44PM

Raise to 130 km/h

I think variable limits aren't a bad idea actually. Road conditions change in Ireland frequently.

Signage would be a big issue I'd imagine.

I also like the idea of variable limits according to the car and driver too, but I reckon that'd be wholly unworkable.

chicorytip · 02-11-2016 02:45PM

Decrease them to 110 km/h

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

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!

The majority of motorists that I observe on the M7, a road I travel on frequently, are driving at a speed at least 10 m.p.h. over the limit. This poses risks particularly, say, when those drivers need to exit which can involve late, heavy braking and/or sudden lane changes. A reduction in the speed limit would go some way toward reducing the risk of collisions at least, if not to an overall change in driver behaviour.

Arcade_Tryer · 02-11-2016 02:47PM

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Boys, there's really no point engaging with arcade tryer. He/she/it is the epitome of "5th gear by the end of the driveway" (saves strain on the engine!) and "lumber onto the motorway at anywhere between 60 and 80 kph but jaysus never attempt to drop a gear and match the speed of the main flow".

Amazing the reaction to a poster who simply admits that they do not always travel AT or ABOVE the speed limit. It really is no wonder road death statistics are what they are. Not purely due to the speed of course. But rather the arrogant superiority. And seeming anger.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

If you are being constantly tailgated, you are doing something wrong. Never happened to me funnily enough. You know what they say, if you meet one asshole, you just met an asshole. If you meet assholes all the time, you're the asshole.

1. Never said constantly. 2. Yeah. Here's an analogy right back at ya. If you claim to have never been tailgated, then you're either a tailgater yourself, don't know what tailgating is, or both.

Dempsey · 02-11-2016 02:52PM

Raise to 150 km/h

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I think variable limits aren't a bad idea actually. Road conditions change in Ireland frequently.

Signage would be a big issue I'd imagine.

I also like the idea of variable limits according to the car and driver too, but I reckon that'd be wholly unworkable.

Works in France so there is no reason it cannot work here. It doesnt require a massive change to signage to implement. If you know the posted limit drops by 20 during adverse conditions then a little thing called common sense should kick in.

Rather than appeal to our inner nanny state mentality and say its not possible maybe we should enforce the law from a common sense perspective and force the drivers to be more legally responsible for excessive speed in poor conditions because just because a speed limit is whatever doesnt mean you can safely drive at that limit in any condition.

_Kaiser_ · 02-11-2016 02:57PM

Raise to 150 km/h

chicorytip wrote: »

The majority of motorists that I observe on the M7, a road I travel on frequently, are driving at a speed at least 10 m.p.h. over the limit. This poses risks particularly, say, when those drivers need to exit which can involve late, heavy braking and/or sudden lane changes. A reduction in the speed limit would go some way toward reducing the risk of collisions at least, if not to an overall change in driver behaviour.

Not so, because what you are describing there is idiots who aren't getting into lane early enough or trying to skip queues. If the limit was lower they'd simply cut you off a little more slowly.

I drive the M7 a lot too and the bigger issues are dawdlers, idiots drifting between lanes without indicating or looking, and of course the muppetry at the Naas exit as people try to cut into the mainline at the last minute.

As I said previously, it's clear that YOU aren't comfortable driving at the posted limits, but don't mistake that for being the norm.

chicorytip · 02-11-2016 02:58PM

Decrease them to 110 km/h

Hugh Mungus wrote: »

55mph. Really. Elaborate please.

It's the perfect medium between dangerously fast and dangerously slow!

GustavoGaviria · 02-11-2016 03:03PM

Raise to 160 km/h

Difference in speed is the main factor in accidents on motorways. Any given road has a mean average speed and the further outside this speed, slower or faster, the greater the risk of accident.

But speed is scapegoated here and in others country's as a blanket factor in most accidents. Instead of addressing the other factors such as road capacity, driver education, and road conditions. The establishment use speed as a stick to generate income via fines.

For a country with varied wet weather conditions we don't do enough. Aquaplaning causes many accidents in this country but most drivers are oblivious to the danger and best reaction until after they have had an accident. Some cars need tyres replaced upwards of twice a year but the culture is to leave it to the NCT man bi-annually.

dr.fuzzenstein · 02-11-2016 05:41PM

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

1. Never said constantly. 2. Yeah. Here's an analogy right back at ya. If you claim to have never been tailgated, then you're either a tailgater yourself, don't know what tailgating is, or both.

Currently driving a 90 something horsepower diesel Transit Connect in Germany to work everyday on an unrestricted part of the Autobahn. It sits quite happily at 110 km/h. Can't say I am being tailgated much because 1: I look out for faster traffic before pulling out to overtake and 2: I don't sit for hours in the "fasht lane" (oder Überholspur) and do get out of the way quickly when I see cars approach at speed. I am aware I drive quite slowly when compared to a lot of traffic and I adapt my driving style, rather than sit in my lane because "I Entitled To Be On The Road!". And I would never claim I am doing it to be "safer" or not stress the engine or that other people should drive like me as well.
Back in Ireland in my Cmax I was driving between 110 and 140 and no issue. I can count the times I was tailgated or bullied on one hand over 5 years or longer. I don't perceive myself as tailgating myself, I don't get any abuse or flashing or get brake tested, so no complaints there.
As for the analogy, not directed at you personally, more of a general guideline.

02-11-2016 06:45PM

Raise to 150 km/h

This guy chose the last option on the vote. Not even at the motorway, although it is at that standard.

https://twitter.com/GardaTraffic/status/793775496257560576?s=09

Odyssey 2005 · 02-11-2016 08:52PM

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Not so, because what you are describing there is idiots who aren't getting into lane early enough or trying to skip queues. If the limit was lower they'd simply cut you off a little more slowly.

I drive the M7 a lot too and the bigger issues are dawdlers, idiots drifting between lanes without indicating or looking, and of course the muppetry at the Naas exit as people try to cut into the mainline at the last minute.

As I said previously, it's clear that YOU aren't comfortable driving at the posted limits, but don't mistake that for being the norm.

Of the fuppin idiots in the Dublin Coaches who insist on hogging the overtaking lane

_Kaiser_ · 02-11-2016 08:56PM

Raise to 150 km/h

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Of the fuppin idiots in the Dublin Coaches who insist on hogging the overtaking lane

Ah yes that's true and they're pretty aggressive about cutting across into it as well

road_high · 02-11-2016 09:01PM

Remove limit altogether with dynamic speed limit signs where necessary

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Of the fuppin idiots in the Dublin Coaches who insist on hogging the overtaking lane

Never been held up by them but do often see them in the over taking lane on the other side. That's on the M9.

Odyssey 2005 · 02-11-2016 09:16PM

M7 and M9..
Should be arrested..

Odyssey 2005 · 02-11-2016 09:17PM

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Ah yes that's true and they're pretty aggressive about cutting across into it as well

Probably rushing for a pint

Voodoomelon · 02-11-2016 09:20PM

flazio wrote: »

And are you open to correction if the speed you deem worthy is wrong? Not saying you are wrong but I'm not saying you're right either. What qualifies you to know best.
Anyone actually take a look at WHY these cars and drivers you deem a nuisance are there in the first place? Perhaps it's the job they fought hard to get and the motorway is the only way they have enough time to get a healthy work/home balance while they save up to get a car they can afford to maintain on a motorway?
Perhaps they recently were in an accident or lost someone on the roads and need time to build their confidence up. Sadly not employers are understanding in these conditions and still demand you turn up for work.
These and many other reasons exist and it helps if you stop thinking about slow cars as mobile chicanes and remember there are people in there with lives and stories.
The Motorways are there for everyone. Get used to that.
(voted for an increase to 140km/h but wouldn't diss anyone for driving in their comfort zone)

Yep, you're right, I've done nothing more than you or anyone else to qualify myself to judge safe speed other than my own experience on the road. But I personally feel than my own judgement of speed is better serving myself and other road users than the posted speed limits on many of our roads.

The roads I speak of are predominantly decent rural style roads. Posted limits on dual carriageways, national roads and motorways I typically obey, but the rural semi-rural stuff where I spend most of my days I dictate my own speed.

Jimbob1977 · 02-11-2016 09:29PM

Yesterday I was passed by a car on the M7.

I was driving at 120kmph. This car drove past me like a bullet. I had never seen speed like it. I'd estimate the speed was 200kmph.

He was out of sight on a straight stretch of motorway within twenty seconds.

If a car had started an overtaking manoeuvre at 1km ahead, the danger would be immense. Applying the brakes at 200kmph is treacherous.

My own personal belief is that 120-130kmph is a suitable speed limit.

In addition, slow driving should be penalised. Anything below 80kmph in 'zero traffic' is not a motorway speed. Should include all tractors, horseboxes and normal vehicles.

GustavoGaviria · 02-11-2016 11:14PM

Raise to 160 km/h

Slight Antidote but paying the toll on M4 between Kinnegad & Kilcock is only worth 5min if your travelling below 100kmph vs getting off the Motorway and taking the old road. So going slow can impact your pocket too

polan · 03-11-2016 12:13AM

Raise to 140 km/h

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

If a car had started an overtaking manoeuvre at 1km ahead, the danger would be immense. Applying the brakes at 200kmph is treacherous.

I will disagree. I've braked from 180-200 kph before and while it's an inconvenience and feels very harsh on the brakes (it probably is), you'd only need to slow down to a 100-110, not to a dead stop.

I've had a person pull out on me before when I was doing 140kph on the M7 (deal with it) at two cars length and while it was scary, I did manage to slow down to 80kph and not kill the numpty, so in my opinion of course - you may agree or disagree, 1km is a very big exaggeration.

Ginger83 · 03-11-2016 12:27AM

Decrease them to 110 km/h

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

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.

I normally drive no more than 100km/hr, quite happy at it too. 80km/hr if i'm in no hurry, no laws broken, if people are not happy theres an overtaking lane.

I sat at 100km/hr today and was passed by a lorry supposed to be limited to 80km/hr. The country has gone mad with speed/rushing.

And before anyone asks i'm in my 30s with a 2L car, i just choose not to be dragged into the rat race brigade.

chicorytip · 03-11-2016 12:46AM

Decrease them to 110 km/h

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Not so, because what you are describing there is idiots who aren't getting into lane early enough or trying to skip queues. If the limit was lower they'd simply cut you off a little more slowly.

I drive the M7 a lot too and the bigger issues are dawdlers, idiots drifting between lanes without indicating or looking, and of course the muppetry at the Naas exit as people try to cut into the mainline at the last minute.

As I said previously, it's clear that YOU aren't comfortable driving at the posted limits, but don't mistake that for being the norm.

The "norm" in this case seems to be wholesale disregard for the rule of law.

Voodoomelon · 03-11-2016 01:41AM

Ginger83 wrote: »

I normally drive no more than 100km/hr, quite happy at it too. 80km/hr if i'm in no hurry, no laws broken, if people are not happy theres an overtaking lane.

Once again, "i'm in the right, law is on my side, nothing else matters". How about some consideration for those around you? Yes 120km/h is not a target, but doing 80km/h on a motorway is disruptive to the flow of traffic and you are more of a hazard than you realise.

Trucks are allowed do 90km/h on the motorway. So if you dip below your 80km/h dawdle momentarily to say 75km/h, account for your speedos margin of error, then yes, it is no surprise that you have trucks overtaking you.

If HGVs are overtaking you, you're driving too slow, plain and simple. Truck drivers do not like overtaking and would rather not whenever possible. It's an unnecessary maneuver for them, it's slow and tedious and blocks traffic from behind.

Whether you like it or not, i'm sure you accept that there are vehicles doing 130-150km/h on a daily basis on the motorway. Depending on traffic conditions, line of site, weather conditions and countless other things, coming across a vehicle doing 80km/h in an environment where everyone is going considerably faster is dangerous. You no doubt will argue that its their fault if an accident occurs, but that's no use to you when you're upside down, buried in a barrier.

I'll admit to doing 100-110kph on a lazy day, it saves me a considerable amount of fuel with a larger engine, but I still pass out trucks and coaches.

Accepting that the motorway is a high speed road territory and that you are exceptionally likely to meet fast moving vehicles, it makes sense to keep your speed closer to the limit, and not 33% below it.

Motorway speed limits in Ireland

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