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

I live in Wales and believe that 20 outside schools, hospitals and within housing estates is a good move but 20 on other roads is crazy! People are so afraid of breaking the rules that they are driving at and below 20 on roads are 30 and above! The implementation of this new system has been very badly managed. In my area there are conflicting signs on roads - 20 on the left verge, 30 on the right verge and 30 painted on the road. Badly thought out, badly implemented and it is costing millions!!

I live in Wales and am most definitely for it. I have found very little, if any, change to my journey times since the 20mph limits were introduced, and if it saves lives and life-changing injuries then it's well worth it! An earlier commentor suggested the cost of bringing the new law in could have been better spent on the NHS - I work in the blood transfusion laboratory in the largest hospital in Cardiff and believe me this change WILL benefit the NHS - you obviously are not aware of the huge number of road traffic accident victims admitted to hospitals every week.

We’ve had it Portsmouth for quite a few years now. Only on side roads. I think it’s brilliant. More careful drivers, less accidents, better for children and elderly especially.

During my youth and early twenties, i walked everywhere or caught a bus, if not local. I am now a lot older, cannot walk far due to medical problems and am astonished to see how little walking the younger generation, actually do, most are taken to school and dropped off by parents driving.
I live in Wales and totally disagree with the 20mph as it has not been proven that it saves lives, it is conjecture by the Welsh Assembly. They are relying on heresay and not proof.
When I do see people walking, they seem to walk in the middle of the road - why?
The 20mph is all around where I live and trying to watch your speed, keeping an eye for traffic and silly pedestrians, it is just about impossible to keep within the current limit. Maybe, i will get used to the difference however, you can’t always anticipate what pedestrians are going to do especially when they are wearing earphones or glued to their Mobile phones. They can’t hear the traffic or are too engrossed in their phones and who gets the blame when they step onto the road - yes, the driver. More tuition is needed for pedestrians.
Additionally, the main roads are patrolled by camera vans etc, the side roads are not and that is where the majority of the speeding is taking place.

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.

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!!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.