Norwich and West Dunbartonshire Councils vote for Default 20mph

Norwich and West Dunbartonshire Councils have voted for a 20mph default speed limit. 20’s Plenty for Us is delighted to add them to the growing list of 50+ places adopting 20mph. 20mph protects everyone from avoidable harm by reducing road risk and increasing air quality and exercise levels. 17m people live in places committed to 20mph.

20mph limits are increasingly becoming the defacto speed limit across the UK’s leading cities and counties. Norwich City Centre and some other areas have already gone 20mph. On 16 March Norwich Highways Agency Committee voted to make 20mph the default limit for residential C and U class roads. Officers propose using more 20mph roundels painted on the road to signal the limit to drivers. Up to the £600,00 remaining in the Cycling City fund could be used[1].

New 20mph speed limits are set to be introduced in residential areas across West Dunbartonshire to improve road safety[2]. The first mandatory 20mph restrictions will be introduced this year thanks to a £500,000 investment by the Council for the development, implementation and promotion of the new safety scheme.

While 20mph limits are already in place near schools across West Dunbartonshire, the decision taken by the Council means the reduced speed limits will begin to be introduced across residential areas during 2017/18, making streets even safer for residents and drivers.

Rod King MBE, Director of 20’s Plenty for Us, commented

“That Norwich and West Dunbartonshire have officially voted for 20mph limits as their normal road speed is great progress. More local Councillors across the UK have realised and acted on the evidence of the enormous safety and public health gains when drivers go a bit slower. The World Health Organisation endorse 20mph as the right limit where people on foot or bicycle mix with traffic. Politicians are increasingly listening to the research and residents and campaigners in over 360 places across the UK who say 20’s Plenty. About 17m people live where 20mph is agreed as the normal limit.”

A list of 20mph places is at http://www.20splenty.org/20mph_places

Open PDF

[1]https://cmis.norwich.gov.uk/live/Meetingscalendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/286/Committee/16/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx

[2] https://wdclabourgroup.wordpress.com/2017/03/12/council-approves-funding-for-mandatory-20mph-speed-limits-in-residential-areas/

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Matt Hodges commented 2017-03-21 21:29:23 +0000
It is good to hear of more authorities adopting 20 mph but isn’t it time our pathetic government adopted 20 mph as the default limit for all “restricted roads” (Technically most lit roads that aren’t signed with a higher limit). Highway authorities could then raise and sign the limit on appropriate main roads.
We also need some enforcement. When cycling at 14 or 15 mph on 20 mph roads in our village I am frequently passed by cars doing well over twice my speed.