The rationale for 20 mph as the default speed limit for residential streets.
In Britain ……
than half of road deaths and serious injuries occur on roads with 30 mph limits
has the highest percentage of pedestrian road fatalities in Europe 22.5%.
Britain has one of the lowest levels of children walking or cycling to school in Europe.
limits on Britain’s urban roads are 60% higher than Europe.
British parents consistently cite traffic speed as the main reason why their children are not allowed to cycle or walk to school.
urban and residential speed limits to 20 mph has been found to increase a urban journeys by just
40 seconds maximum. See our "myth busting" page on "Slower
Lowering urban and residential speed limits to 20 mph has been found to decrease child pedestrian accidents by up to 70%(Transport Research Laboratory). In Portsmouth the 20mph limit on all residential roads has reduced casualties by 22%.
In Hilden, Germany……
24% of in town trips are made by bicycle.
All residential streets have an 18.5 mph speed limit, with some reduced to 9 mph.
Road side cycle tracks are being removed as the road is an even safer place for cyclists to be and is more direct and more convenient.
In Portsmouth, and Newcastle, and Leicester and Oxford, and Hull, and Bristol, and Warrington, and Islington and many more towns, council officials are using the recent DfT Guidelines changes to introduce blanket 20 mph limits on residential streets.
the public and 75% of drivers support 20 mph as a speed limit on residential streets.
It time for our residential roads to be equitably shared with all the users by setting an appropriate speed limit that protects the young and the vulnerable.
The time for 20 mph as a speed limit on residential roads in Britain has come.