30k speed limits for all urban areas on the way

And rightfully so, as a pedestrian you're far more likely to survive being hit at 30kph vs 50kph. It'll save lives so a no brainer.

They should feck off with their speed limits and stop pursuing the anti-car agenda

I predict a calm and reasoned debate on this topic as ever.

30kph as a default is stupid, it’s too low. I’ve also seen little to no public support for at all apart from the cycling lobby.

The “safety” argument always gets trotted out in these cases because its proponents think it gives them a morally unassailable position, but this is not the case - we already have some of the safest roads in Europe, this measure would be overkill. The reality is that this is nothing to do with safety and more to do with making cars more unattractive vehicles.

Also would the limit apply to bicycles as a matter of interest?

Good advice, I'm sure, but not much use to those injured and killed while still on the footpath, or walking on rural roads with no footpaths.

Speed limits don't work in urban environments. You should design the street for the appropriate speed. Slap a 30km/h limit on a wide two lane highway and no one will stick to it without constant enforcement.

Aren't all new cars coming with GPS speed limiters by law soon though?

I am well aware of this as I found myself at the mercy of speedy traffic on the country roads of Dublin 24 when I did a couple of brisk evening walks beyond the confines of Citywest after work and it was terrifying. No footpaths or soft shoulders and blind corners galore. I never did these walks again.

On the other hand, I do feel perfectly safe on the urban sidewalks of Dublin City where I mostly cross at designated spots or where and when it is safe to do so. Conversely, many of my fellow pedestrians have their heads buried in their phones at crucial points, are so drunk or drugged out of it and step out into the path of moving traffic or just step out because they feel entitled to.

Now, drivers who wind up crashing into footpaths at speed nevermind injuring/killing pedestrians in the process have no business behind the wheel period.

Tell me then, are trains creating danger when people stupidly walk out in front of them?

Do you think pedestrians shouldn't take an ounce of responsibility when negotiating urban streets?

You only experience danger if you are woeffully unobservant or aren't street smart.

Yeah, cars can be weapons in the wrong hands and an already large amount of onus is on drivers on behalf and for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists as well as other motorists.

It is because of the ambiguity of responsibility among pedestrians that jaywalking has been banned in many parts of the world and rightly so. It eradicates the double-standard seen in many pedestrians where they claim victimhood regardless of how unobservant they were.

There's zero enforcement of the current 30kph zones so what difference will making more 30kph zones do? It won't help the person who gets badly injured or killed by saying the driver was going too fast.

Travel Dublin's quays or the other 30kph zones and even Dublin Buses ignore it. Go into any housing estate in SDCC driving at 30kph and people are up your arse the whole time. My parents live in a 50kph estate in DLRDCC and they regularly have cars travelling much faster than that. Even the 30kph school zones are completely ignored.

30kph zones are good in theory but since there will be zero enforcement it's just politicians and lobby groups getting their name in headlines. It won't make the roads any safer.

Yeah, why don’t people look both ways when they’re on the pavement.

And why don’t babies look both ways when crossing on green pedestrian lights?

And why don’t men look both ways when crossing on the green pedestrian light to avoid the driver who had nine seconds to respond to the changing light?

Victim blame much, Patrick?