You may have seen the reports in the Sun and Daily Mail today.

Well “faster is safer” is a great message that some people would love to hear, but is groundless.

We have already debunked each of the examples quoted in Bath & North East Somerset, Manchester and Hampshire.

Other references shown bear no relation to most 20mph limits.

These articles are sloppy journalism based on reports that have been widely de-bunked and critiqued. Whilst the “faster is safer” message may sell newspapers there is robust evidence that 20mph limits work and are the right speed limit for where pedestrians and cyclists mix with motor vehicles. In the city of Bath casualties reduced by 23% on 20mph roads after implementation. Manchester’s report had serious failings and the Hampshire trial was badly planned and badly executed. For detailed critiques of each see :-

Bath      

http://www.20splenty.org/freddie_star and http://www.20splenty.org/banes-report

Manchester      

http://www.20splenty.org/lessons_to_learn_from_manchester

Hampshire         

http://www.20splenty.org/hampshire-review-critique

The 80% non-compliance figure referenced was based on only 9 locations throughout the whole of the UK which were chosen for being free-flowing and atypical of most 20mph limits. We mapped them on Google Maps. See  http://www.20splenty.org/20mph_compliance_report

For Edmund King to say that 20mph limits are a “waste of money” without any reference to the actual success of 20mph limits is ridiculous and shows a complete disregard for road safety or the protection of vulnerable road users.

With regard to successes of 20mph limits see

Calderdale

http://www.20splenty.org/calderdale20success

Bristol

http://www.20splenty.org/bristol_20mph_analysis

Some of the many organisations advocating 20mph/30kmh limits and included in recent press releases are  :-

Institute of Welsh Affairs

http://www.20splenty.org/iwa_calls_for_welsh_20mph

Transport for London

http://www.20splenty.org/20splenty_for_londons_vision_zero

OECD

http://www.20splenty.org/oecd_urban_20mph

NICE

http://www.20splenty.org/nice_20mph_for_air_quality

WHO

http://www.20splenty.org/duty_of_care_mandates_20mph

20mph limits have been implemented in the majority of the largest 40 urban authorities in the UK and 25% of the population of UK live in authorities with a policy of 20mph for most roads. In most places results have shown significant reductions in speeds and casualties that are very beneficial. Small isolated roads or wards may show variances but due to being very small numbers and the randomness of collisions have no statistical significance whatsoever.

20mph and 30kmh limits are working well and becoming international best practice. These articles are a slap in the face to every child who wants to walk or cycle to school, to every elderly person wanting to continue walking to the shops and friends, to every professional working to make our places better places for active travel and ignores the 110,000 casualties each year in the UK on roads with a 30mph limit.