The number of people living in local authorities committed to 20mph limits now reaches 8m

20’s Plenty For Us now has 8 million residents in towns, cities and villages throughout the UK who have opted for 20 mph as the default limit for residential streets.

From being the backward nation in Europe regarding the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, Britain is fast adopting the policy of setting 20 mph as the default speed limit where people live. This follows established practice in so many European towns which are twice as safe to walk or cycle in than in Britain.

The proposals usually allow arterial roads to remain at 30 mph but set most of the roads which children play in, walk to school along and live in to a maximum speed of 20 mph. This is being done without speed bumps and works by setting signed mandatory speed limits and engaging with communities to gain commitment to lower speed compliance. In truth it adds just seconds to a motor vehicle journey times yet lowers casualty rates, pollution, noise and stress where people live.

The 20’s Plenty For Us campaigning organisation was only started in 2007, but now has 127 local campaigns throughout the country. 20’s Plenty For Us campaigners are all liaising with local politicians and their traffic authorities to deliver a better quality of life for residents through lowering speeds in residential roads.

In that time the UK government has also responded with updated guidance in 2009 and 2011 to allow local traffic authorities to more easily implement 20mph limits. It exemplifies the work done in such cities as Portsmouth, Bristol, Oxford and Warrington where such 20mph limits have already been implemented. Other local authorities implementing such schemes are London Boroughs of Islington, Hackney, Camden, Southwark and Waltham Forest, the towns of Liverpool, York, Brighton, Newcastle, Cambridge, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Edinburgh, as well as counties and administrative areas such as the whole of Lancashire and Wirral. See our website for a full list.

Rod King, Founder of 20’s Plenty For Us said :-

“Lower speeds only have a marginal effect on journey times, yet create a quieter street with less pollution and far greater safety for vulnerable road users. At 20 mph our streets become community public spaces where all road users can benefit from equitably interacting and sharing the road. Most people support 20 mph for residential streets and local authorities are responding to that demand and changing culture to provide a safe environment for their children and adults to walk and cycle as well as drive.

8 million people now have sensible speed management policies in their local authority and this is rapidly spreading.”

20mph speed limits for residential and urban roads are widely supported by government and voluntary organisations in Road Danger Reduction, Health and Wellbeing and Child Protection sectors. 20’s Plenty for Us provides information on all aspects of lower speeds at www.20splentyforus.org.uk/briefings.htm

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