Belfast city centre: Drivers 'must cut speed to 20mph'

A scheme to cut the speed limit to 20mph will be rolled out from Monday

Motorists driving through parts of Belfast city centre will have to cut their speed to 20 miles per hour from Monday 12 October.

Legislation enforcing new speed limits comes into effect from that date.

The move is an attempt to cut down on car accidents. Drivers will have to cut their speed on 75 roads across Belfast's city centre.

New speed limits of 40mph and 60mph are also due to be imposed in other parts of Northern Ireland.

It is unclear whether road signs will be in place from Monday to highlight the limits.

A spokesman for the Department of Regional Development said this was a pilot scheme which will run for three years.

"The aim is to assess, over a three year period, the effect the revised speed limits may have on vehicle speeds and road traffic collisions which result in personal injury," he said.

"The legislative process will be completed on 12 October and the associated signing will be rolled out from this date.

"The schemes are located in areas of Belfast city centre, Merville Garden Village, Newtownabbey; Whitehall, Ballycastle; Langley, Ballynahinch and Rosses, Ballymena."

The draft legislation was posted on the department's website in July 2015.