Thursday 4 December 2014

A great 12 months for 20mph limits nationally

Its been a great year for 20 mph up and down the country. Lots of examples of towns starting to adopt 20 mph limits and great results from those who have already implemented them. Report after report from learned organisations has come out in favour of 20 mph limits. Here are the one I am aware of. Apologies if I have missed some. In many instances you can find more information on the 20s plenty website.


Brighton 20mph to be extended as figures show it's safer - Nov 2014
Fewer road collisions are happening in Brighton & Hove streets where 20mph limits have been introduced. Meanwhile the majority of residents consulted about extending the limits to new areas of the city supported the idea.

The council has monitored collisions and casualties from the Phase 1 area of 20mph limits, in central Brighton & Hove, introduced in April 2013. The figures are lower than the three-year average for the area.  There was a 17 per cent drop in collisions. The average was 318 collisions a year, whereas under 20mph the figure went down to 264. The average number of casualties was 371 per year from 2010-2013.  With the introduction of a 20mph speed limit it dropped to 327 – a reduction of 12 per cent.  There was a 20 per cent reduction in serious casualties, down from an average of 53 to 43.

Atherington village looks set to get 20mph limits - Nov 2014
Following a visit to the village of Atherington in September members of the North Devon Highways And Traffic Orders Committee at their  meeing on Tuesday 18th of November approved the Safer Atherington Streets group application for a 20mph speed limit. This decision was reached on the basis of a lengthy and detailed application document, support form local groups, schools residents and firms and the fact finding visit, despite advice from Highways staff - they stuck with policy all along.

The next step is for the decision to go before DCC Cabinet possibly in January 15 because there has to be an exception made. Finance is a matter of concern but Atherington Parish Council has already obtained pledges of over £1,000 towards implementation costs and this was made clear to HATOC.
www.saferatheringtonstreets.org.uk

Nottingham Sherwood 20mph speed limit shows positive results - Nov 2014
Average speeds are down, more people are choosing to walk or cycle rather than drive and there are fewer road injuries, a year after the city's first 20mph speed limit area was introduced in Sherwood.

Surveys of the scheme show there has been a 5.2% decrease in average speeds to 21.1mph from 22.3. The reduction in high speeds in the area is also positive, with 85% of drivers recorded as travelling at or below 27.9mph - a high speed reduction of 11.5%. On the Sherwood roads that are now part of the 20mph scheme, there have been on average 9.4 casualties per year in the five years before the speed restrictions were introduced. In the 12 months following the introduction of the 20mph speed limit, casualties have reduced to eight; all of them were slight injuries only.
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/pressarchive/index.aspx?articleid=28895

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health calls for national default 20mph limit - Nov 2014
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health recently publisged its manifesto for Making the UK’s child health outcomes comparable to the best in the world. Amongst the recommendations was a call to reduce the national speed limit in built up areas to 20mph to reduce the number of deaths by road traffic accidents.

See the full report

20mph Improves Public Health Says Literature Review - Oct 2014The Journal of Public Health has published a paper summarising research on 20mph zones and limits. Scientific literature confirmed that 20mph is effective at improving public health via reduced accidents and injuries. 20splenty briefing

20's Plenty for Us and Vision 2020 calls for 20mph limits to help people to see and be seen on roads-  Oct 2014The 20’s Plenty for Us campaign, supported by VISION 2020 UK, is calling for a 20mph default speed limit in residential streets without physical calming in order to protect vulnerable road users, including those who are blind and partially-sighted. 
20splenty briefing

Edinburgh's 20mph Limit Trial A Resounding Success - Sep 2014Edinburgh’s 20mph limit trial showed improved popularity, perceptions of safety and cycling and walking levels. Cycling to school trebled.  Parental permission for outside play doubled.  Speeds and car use fell.  Proposals extend the benefits citywide. 

20splenty briefing

Bogus analysis of DfT casualty figures by Institute of Advanced Motorists July 2014 IAM analysis of DfT casualty figures for 2013 show that as the total number of 20mph roads increases, so do the total number of casualties, but their conclusion that this is evidence of increased danger shows a woeful lack of understanding of statistics. 

20splenty briefing

City of London Celebrates 20mph Limit from July 20th - July 2014 

The City of London Corporation will implement a 20mph limit on all its roads from 20th July. The square mile’s new lower limit will improve safety and the quality of life in the Capital’s financial hub.
20splenty briefing

Capitals Are Going 20mph - Jun 2014British capital cities are embracing wide 20mph speed limits. Lewisham will soon join nine other London Boroughs at 20mph. Edinburgh's plans for 20mph cover high streets and residential roads. Cardiff’s 20mph pilot has been installed. The streets of Paris will soon be almost entirely 30kmh (18mph). 

20splenty briefing

Calderdale Embraces 20mph - Apr 2014Calderdale is the first West Yorkshire Council set to approve a wide area Total 20mph limit residential road policy.  Key is a commitment of £500k of public health funds for engagement and persuading drivers of the advantages of slower speeds. 

20splenty briefing

20mph for 50% of London's Roads for Pedestrian Safety - Apr 2014Two major pedestrian safety reports have underscored the vital role 20mph limits play to protect pedestrians from road danger.  The Greater London Assembly Transport Committee wants half of London’s roads to go 20mph by 2016. 

20splenty briefing

YouGov poll shows that Britons want 20mph limits - Jan 14 Academics at UWE Bristol’s Social Marketing Centre have analysed a YouGov survey and concluded that, whilst most Britons want and intend to abide by 20mph limits for residential and busy streets, they see the need for enforcement. 

20splenty briefing

20mph Limits: Best Public Health & Equalities Policy Option says Social Science Expert Prof. Danny Dorling - Jan 2014The British Academy have a published a policy advice collection in which Prof Danny Dorling clearly lays out the evidence for wide 20mph limits as his top policy to tackle health inequalities. Entitled “If you could do one thing..” it is a guide for Local Authorities by nine leading Social Science academics. 

20splenty briefing