20mph speed limit....for or against?

The tractors are of course working, but that does not mean they need to drive like bats out of hell! They are a real danger round here.

Chestnut

Wheniwasyourage

There could be fewer traffic jams, Chestnut, if some people realise that it's just as quick to walk over a short distance, or safer to cycle if there is a 20mph speed limit. We have got to get out of the frame of mind that thinks that the car is the default for everyone!

I'm thinking of the people I mentioned, whose jobs involve driving around town all day by car or van.

It's lovely to think of people walking and cycling but some people cannot manage either, and with our climate who wants to do that during a wet and windy month. They will be soaked to the skin every day before they even get to work.

The delivery people could have a trailer attached with a strap over their shoulders to carry all the parcels.

The carers could go around on bikes like the midwives of the 1950s.

Brilliant idea!

What about those who, for some reason, cannot walk or cycle?

I'm in a Welsh city - the drive to see my son has always taken an hour give or take 5 mins either way. I did it last week once the 20 mph limit was brought in. It took an hour. It really doesn't slow you down that much, its safer, you will use less fuel, and the road noise outside our house is much reduced. I am definitely for it,

Everyone saying OK outside schools - what about when school is over. Can children still not be kept safe?

Whitewavemark2

For. If it saves serious injury or death it is worth it.

My daughters best friend when they were 13 years old was killed by a car travelling at 30 miles an hour. It was thought that if the car had been travelling at a slower speed she would have lived.

This is so sad. Every road death is sad. It’s so unnecessary.

I feel that 20 is fine on many roads. Children such as Whitewave’s daughter’s friend might well not die if the 20 limit was in place in all domestic areas.
However, I think outside of residential roads, 30 is fine.

We live in an area that’s edged with farm land slowly being sold for new build houses. There are two schools to service the area now residents parking is being introduced and speed limits. It’s not a bad idea it’s necessary it was a small village the roads simply cannot cope with all the traffic.

Regarding impatient drivers wanting to speed up and overtake let them don’t be intimidated by bully drivers. It’s an inconvenience to someone working on a time table like delivery drivers. But it’s something that will eventually have to be accepted by all road users working or not.

Everyone saying OK outside schools - what about when school is over. Can children still not be kept safe?

I think, seeing pupils coming out of the local schools, the older ones tend to walk in groups and some go into the road so, if I can't avoid that time, I tend to do less than 20mph!
The younger ones' parents think the roads are pavements anyway. And the pavements are roads to park on.

rosie1959

We have it in the streets around us which is fine as there is a school but not on other roads it’s really not necessary. We don’t have speed cameras but the warning signs that flash if you are going to fast. Quite honestly the stupid parking of some of the parents is bigger danger to children

Same as round us.

Against, people who speed will still do so, and pedestrians may be lulled into a sense of misplaced safety.

I agree with many others, I'm in favour near schools 8.30-9.15 and 3.00-3.45 but only on school days. There are many schools in our area so you have to travel for miles at 20mph, even outside these hours including weekends and holidays.
All our local high street is 20mph, despite the fact that there are four traffic lights with pedestrian sequences and a zebra crossing, all within a distance of about 400 yards. This leads to traffic build up and frustration, with people sometimes jumping the lights at the end of this run. Often there are quite a few buses caught in this mahem, leading to queues of buses at the stops which other motorists cannot pass.
The whole situation is not improved by the fact that there are cyclists weaving in and out of the traffic and jumping the lights constantly.

Well Treetops 50 pedestrians on pavements and crossings in the South East have no disillusions when stepping out. It can feel like the Wild West some days! Shame legislation can’t do much more to protect pedestrians.

rosie1959

We have it in the streets around us which is fine as there is a school but not on other roads it’s really not necessary. We don’t have speed cameras but the warning signs that flash if you are going to fast. Quite honestly the stupid parking of some of the parents is bigger danger to children

I agree about the parents' parking, we had a stupid father parked on the zigzags just before the school zebra crossing this morning. He'd stopped to let his wife out to take the children to school, waiting until she got back and looking puzzled by the fact that all the other drivers were honking at him. If I see him do this again I'll take a photo and report him, there are plenty of other places to stop safely.

Around schools and hospitals - I am in full agreement. Elsewhere however, no, its not easy to drive at that speed and drivers will be spending more time watching their speedo than they are watching the road. It could, potentially, cause more accidents and I'd certainly expect more incidents of road rage.

At the request of the head teacher we did briefly have a traffic warden near the school but he was so keen to avoid confrontation that he actually looked the other way and walked away when people stopped illegally.

Keep the areas that are already 20 mph or otherwise ridiculous. A snail’s pace.

Will this include motorbikes? They go faster already than cars and go over the speed limit.

Casdon

I live in Wales, and I’m for. There’s been no difference in queuing where I live, it’s easy to drive at 20mph (just change gear!) and it is making people drive more cautiously which will save people’s lives - and also the lives of domestic animals which dart into the road. The only thing that’s annoying me is the idiots who drive right up to your bumper because they want to break the speed limit.

I also live in Wales. But I don't believe it is making people drive more cautiously. I am forever looking at my speedometer to make sure it doesn't exceed the 20mph. I do however agree with ........ The only thing that’s annoying me is the idiots who drive right up to your bumper because they want to break the speed limit.
I have had car's overtake me near schools too! At some terrifying speeds

Wales is like the twilight zone - driving feels like you’re part of a funeral procession … it does not need to be everywhere just where there is a safety issue like schools etc … and it’s got to have a knock on effect with businesses, there must be a better way.

Will the speed limit be enforced? It's 20 mph here - since an accident that caused life-changing injuries to a child near the primary school.

Would you realise it's 20 mph? Not unless you saw the signs, no you wouldn't. Speed cushions and chicanes would have been a better choice for our little residential roads.

We have 20mph limit in most of Bristol. It's excellent, slows down the traffic enough that I feel a bit more confident to cycle. Also safer to walk around, particularly as it's a university town packed with young people who sometimes seem unaware of traffic, and loads of people hire the little scooters to get around. I'm a driver too and feel happier going at a slower speed without being hassled by other impatient motorists.

We've had 20 mph in London for quite a long time and there are definitely pros and cons. I and countless other people I know have been caught on camera driving at 23 miles an hour, and felt more than annoyed at the consequences - which are either a fine + 3 points, or the need to attend an online Speed Awareness course which costs £91-93 currently. Having chosen to do the course I was enlightened on the difference to the pedestrian who is hit by a car driving at 20 mph as opposed to one driving at 25 mph. It can literally be a difference of life or death. That said, it is very difficult to drive at 20 mph continually, not least because cars aren't engineered to achieve that. I've not yet seen any RTA statistics relating to 20 mph zones and I just hope that there's concrete evidence that this draconian measure does make a tangible difference. However, a blanket policy of 20 mph on all roads is nonsense and will result only in blocked roads causing more pollution.

Totally disagree with it. Good near schools that's it. Similar in Bristol it's ridiculous and with all the blocked roads in Exeter. A 20 minute journey taking 2 hours in traffic jams to prevent pollution. What a joke.

Against it, it’s dangerous and very hard to drive at 20mph unless your Miss Daisy

Funnily enough we are on hols on Wales at the moment, the 20 mph is in place in certain areas, some I understand, but there's one particular place that you have to go up a very steep hill, it's not possible to go up at 20mph, we're in hubby's car which has a bigger engine size than mine, he said I'd never make it up here in my car keeping to that speed, tbf some of the supposedly built up areas are still 30, and others 20 it's very confusing, I also don't sees how it's greener! The car in front of us the other day was struggling/ or not happy to keep to 20 and kept revving causing more pollution

Excellent advice Casdon - I discovered this for myself - very sensible. I drive into London quite a bit- the 20 mph is great. It mostly stops huge 4x4’s pushing up behind you or speed merchants usually driving, I’m afraid to say and apologies to any of you who have these cars- Audis BMWs and Mercedes. I rather dread seeing those symbols in my rear mirror!!

I think if cruise control on cars could work at 20mph, it would be fine but I find it very distracting trying to stay at 20mph in a way that I don't with 30mph. In lots of countries it is the law of the road that you drive at a lower speed automatically for areas around schools and the penalties are doubled for infringements. I like that idea.