Lucerne, Switzerland has produced 8 excellent fact sheets about 30km/h (18.5mph). They describe how 30km/h affects quality of life (better), noise (less), road safety (increased), air quality (improved), travel time (little difference), bus journey times (rarely any difference), road capacity (helps) and neighbourhoods (nicer).    Continue reading

The government has recently published an update to the 2013 guidance to local Traffic Authorities on setting local speed limits. This was promised at the last Conservative Conference when it launched its "Plan for Drivers" in what is widely recognised as an attempt to gather support in anticipation of a 2024 election. Our response to the Department for Transport Circular 01/2013 (March 2024 revision) can be broken down into 3 areas: Why have the revisions been made? What are the key elements of the revised guidance? What will be the impact from the revised guidance? Continue reading

20mph is as enforceable as any speed limit.  20’s Plenty for Us asked Police Forces whether and how they actually enforce 20mph speed limits.  Most do enforce 20mph and 2/3 of speeding tickets come from Fixed Cameras (across ALL speed limits)  Continue reading

*** WONDERFUL conference with over 120 attendees *** COMMITMENT to 20mph in Scotland by 2025 *** CONSENSUS that default 30mph not 'fit-for-purpose' in the 21st Century *** DEBATE no longer about whether to implement 20mph, but how to maximise benefits *** 20mph implemented to SUIT LOCAL NEEDS *** Latest data shows REDUCTIONS of up to 8mph on faster roads *********THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS********* Continue reading

Astounding results in Wales just one week after 20mph rollout show a 2.9mph reduction in average speeds.One week to the day after Wales introduced widespread 20mph limits across the country, Agilysis have released a report* analysing the impact of traffic speeds over hundreds of miles of road. Continue reading

Cornwall’s Conservative group won majority control of the County Council in May 2021 with a manifesto that promised 20mph with resident support.  Continue reading

An analysis of seven 20mph area shows how Local Authorities that include faster roads in signed-only schemes reap the most benefit: Mean speed reductions of twice the previous estimate; Greatest reductions on previously faster roads; Close correlation between pre-existing speeds and speed reductions; and Including faster roads brings much greater road casualty reductions. Continue reading

Reducing peak road speeds where people are saves energy and significant cash. New research from Future Transport shows fuel efficiency peaks with speed capped at 20mph. This “real life” model factors in stop/start urban traffic. Less acceleration saves precious resources as over twice as much energy is required to get to 30mph. Drivers get up to 10p per mile fuel saving without trips taking longer. That's a 30% saving in urban fuel costs. Continue reading

It’s been a year of great progress through 2022 for 20’s Plenty. That has been not only in campaigning but in new implementations. And the global adoption of 30km/h and 20mph limits is increasing alongside the UK. Please follow the links to more information and inspiration.   Continue reading

What are communities wanting? Communities across the world are asking for 20mph (30km/h) as a norm in cities, towns and villages. Local people understand how higher vehicle speeds blight communities and inhibit their ability to walk, cycle and use public transport; they know that lower speeds save lives and reduce pollution; and they appreciate that 20mph can be the cornerstone of building inclusive communities.  In successive UK government surveys, 70% said that 20mph was the right speed limit for residential streets.   Continue reading

By adopting a motion to support 20mph where people live, work and play, your Parish or Town Council will 1) benefit the local community, 2) demonstrate to the Highway Authority the desire for 20mph county-wide and 3) make it cheaper and easier to implement. Continue reading

New research[1] from engineering consultants, Future Transport, models the impact of capping speeds at 20mph vs. 30mph. This “real life” modelling that takes account of the stop/start nature of urban traffic yields a very different result from traditional steady-state models. It shows significant and substantial reductions in emissions: CO2 lower by 26% and NOx 28% lower. With UK hosting COP26, campaigners are calling on governments to set 20mph or 30km/h limits as national urban/village defaults. Continue reading

Use our new calculator to see the casualty reductions and financial benefits from implementing 20mph for your Local Authority or for England, Scotland or Wales as a whole.  Continue reading

Residents want the freedom to choose how they travel. 20mph on our streets brings that choice. People, particularly the elderly, fear the intimidation from high speeds on residential streets and in town and village centres. Continue reading

A nearly universal aspiration in communities is to make traffic speed compatible with community life and human survivability.  A 30mph limit is no longer fit for purpose for urban and village streets. Lower default limits are being set. Choose 20mph. Continue reading

Among urban and village improvement options, 20mph ranks top for cost effectiveness. Over a wide area, 20mph benefits all road users and the whole community. Casualties fall 20%[1], noise almost halves and active travel rises. Councils can afford it. [1] http://www.20splenty.org/20mph_casualty_reduction Continue reading

Clocks go back Sunday 25 October meaning darker nights. Sunset will be from 4.45pm and nightfall from 6pm.  20mph limits widen drivers’ fields of vision. This helps see hazards and take avoiding action earlier. Drivers can stop in half the distance compared to 30mph. 20mph reduces the kinetic energy with fewer deaths or life changing injuries. Continue reading

Children used to roam further than now. There’s COVID yes, but they still need to go places alone. Traffic fear is key.  Wide 20mph limits enable kids to get out - to relatives, friends, parks, shops, play, walk, scoot and cycle.  Confident, sociable, independent, healthy, active travel habits form on safer streets. Obesity, anxiety and loneliness reduce.  Families lead better lives. They say “it takes a village to raise a child” – and that’s so much better with a 20mph limit. Continue reading

Organising a 20mph campaign at county council level has many advantages. Our new email a decision maker facility will  work best when communities across an authority work together. There’s power in numbers and especially in focussing on updating policy rather than competing to be a 20mph exception in an otherwise 30mph county. Continue reading

UK and global progress in adopting 20mph limits is evident in transport recovery responses to social distancing pressures. Politicians are increasingly aware of the scarcity of space to move safely. Slower roads help keep people apart as business reopens. Continue reading

Our moral compass and true direction is set by our values. An urban/village 20mph default limit aligns with what’s truly valuable – assisting the reduction of COVID-19 infection rates, lower emissions, fairness, social justice, protecting the vulnerable, health equality, child development and independence for the elderly and disabled. A national 20mph limit is a smart way to promote key, universally agreed aspirations for a better society long term, especially now road space is scarce. Continue reading

Elected county or city councillors (in Unitary Local Authorities) have powers to set speed limits. Not MPs, district or parish councillors. Campaign targets are mainly the top (cabinet level) councillors. They have budget control/money. Officers eg highways employees do not set or update policy. Aim to update policy through councillors. Continue reading

The current Covid-19 Crisis is of major concern and governments are looking at ways to protect their population and reduce the number of deaths from this new threat. We are not advocating 20mph limits as a cure, but we believe there is good evidence of how communities already implementing strong 20mph and 30km/h policies can better protect the public in such a crisis. Continue reading

We know corona virus has made face to face activism hard. Yet the need to reduce speeds still exits. Tactics will evolve.  There’s plenty of good news on places respecting road users by going 20mph. Continue reading

Is increasing sustainable transport, like dieting,  as simple as asking individuals to drive less and exercise more?  No! Travel structures and societal norms don’t fully support the healthier choices as we’re afraid of injuries and dirty air. Politicians must prioritise road safety to nudge people’s travel choices. 30kph/20mph limits are foundational for mode shift from private car use to feet, cycles and public transport. Continue reading

UK Places - Glasgow unanimously voted for a Total 20 policy for almost 600,000 residents. £4.35M will make the vast majority of its network 20mph. Birmingham is raising the proportion of its roads that are 20mph to 90%. Kingston upon Thames is consulting on wide area 20mph. Leeds announced almost every inner-city road will go 20mph. London’s TfL will make every road it controls (the Red Routes) inside the Congestion Charge 20mph by May 2020. We await consultation results from the City of Westminster for every road they manage to go 20mph. Continue reading

County-wide campaigns are when 20’s Plenty branches across a highway authority area jointly call for 20mph limits.  Rather than compete for funds, campaigns work together for the policy commitment to giving all built up areas wide 20mph limits.  Unity is powerful and it’s the most cost-effective policy. Continue reading

Placemaking is a people-centred approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. A 20mph or 30kmh limit is a key element in making your place a better, more enticing place for people to be. It draws people to linger in a more attractive, vibrant, healthy and successful location. Continue reading

20mph reduces the power imbalance between road users so some drivers can choose to drive less far or less often.  It also smooths traffic flow. Independent travel by the young and vulnerable groups rises too. Continue reading

Vision Zero adopts a safe systems approach and commitment to injury prevention. Slower speeds and 20mph (30km/h) limits are key. Transport for London are setting a 20mph limit on all its roads inside the Congestion Charging Zone. Cambridge, Massachusetts is reducing city limits from 25mph to 20mph. San Francisco is adopting city-wide 20mph. Continue reading

A connected, friendly society flourishes in places where it feels safe to chat or play. People, especially families and elderly, connect outside more easily by slowing down traffic or diverting it away.  20mph is a friendly limit - it raises liveability and quality of life. It’s key to healthy streets. 30mph is isolating. Continue reading

The Scottish Government are questioning a 20mph default limit. Our response is to ask for clarity. Exactly what is at the heart of the matter with 20mph? Evidence, political will, siding with the motoring lobby or a lack of vision? Continue reading

Newly elected Councillors, especially where there are changes in which political party has control are key lobbying targets. It’s wonderful if their manifesto had slower speeds.  Even if it didn’t, congratulate them and ask for 20mph to make a positive difference. First requests for help could receive most attention. Get in! Continue reading

Not all disabilities are clearly visible. Drivers simply can’t tell if someone at a roadside has mental health, sight or hearing issues, or limited physical abilities. 20mph limits are the safe speed wherever people mix with motor traffic. 20mph upholds duty of care and rights in the Equalities Act. Continue reading

Both genders enjoy a better quality of life in wide area 20mph, with women benefiting most. Calmer speeds lead to greater street confidence, freedom from some child escort duties, a greater ability to exercise safely and more time due to less escort duties. Continue reading

We consider this report to be a very useful addition to the wealth of information that we have already collated in our briefing sheets. We think it beneficial to both provide a link to the Headline Report and the Detail Report. We are particularly pleased with the  summary of "Lessons and considerations for national and local decision-makers", which very much echoes our own views on the way to implement wide-area schemes which maximise success and provide the foundation for a wide range of societal benefits and other initiatives. Hence we have included the final sections of the Headline Report below. You may also download the MindMap which we presented to Atkins toward the end of the evaluation for comparison. You can also access our Press Release showing our initial response. Continue reading

Local authorities can, with the approval of their police force, institute public prosecutions of speed limit offenders. Continue reading

TfL has just released its guidance to the London boroughs for schemes to fund between 2019/20 and 2021/22. 20mph limits play a key role for both TfL and Borough roads. Continue reading

London is making excellent progress in adopting wide-area 20mph limits across its many boroughs. Already 43% of all Londoners are living on 20mph roads and streets with a 20mph speed limit (3.7 million out of a total population of 8.7 million). In the Inner London boroughs more than three-quarters (76%) of the population is living on 20mph streets and roads (2.3m out of a 3.1m population).     Continue reading