20’s Plenty 13th Annual Conference delegates hear how 20mph is becoming the new normal Over 100 delegates from across the UK heard how 20mph is becoming the new normal where people live, work and play.  Co-hosted by Landor Links and Oxfordshire County Council, the event was chaired by Debra Sims (Past President Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation). Academics, industry experts and campaigners shared news of national progress, local wins and the latest research on how wide area 20mph limits improve quality of life and public health. Continue reading

The presidency of the ITF[0] rotates amongst its 64 member countries and is being transferred to UK near the start of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030. This is a unique opportunity for UK Secretary of State, Grant Shapps to provide leadership and #CommitToAct by reducing the national urban speed limit to 20mph, a proven road safety initiative that could save millions of lives if adopted worldwide. This is a key call of the ITF and others to set 30km/h and 20mph limits wherever motors mix with people. Continue reading

A new app has been developed that enables any member of the public with a smartphone to gather video evidence of speeding for submission to police for processing and enforcement. This paves the way for wider enforcement and allows police and authorities to align with community demands for speed limit compliance. Continue reading

Calls from communities across the UK for wide-area 20mph speed limits are increasing as the number of local 20’s Plenty Campaigns approaches a significant new milestone. The UK demand for lower speed limits is gaining momentum as the total number of local 20’s Plenty Campaigns is on target to reach 600 in the near future.  Continue reading

Wide-area 20mph schemes are already common in urban authorities and “20mph as a norm” is government policy in Wales[1] and Scotland[2]. Now, the desire for 20mph speed limits is sweeping across rural communities throughout the UK. County authorities are starting to answer a call to action from town and parish councils who are giving voice to local residents’ aspirations for 20’s Plenty.   [1] https://www.20splenty.org/welsh_20mph_report [2] https://www.20splenty.org/scotgov_says_20splenty Continue reading

With the Welsh government already committed to a national default 20mph limit for urban and village roads, the Scottish Government has announced that it plans[1] for 20mph to become the norm in built-up areas. This aligns with global best practice[2] that 20mph or 30km/h is the maximum permissible speed on roads used by pedestrians and cyclists unless a higher limit is evidentially safe. It is a key component of Scotland’s response to the Climate Emergency and helps to support Active Travel. Continue reading

Setting 20mph/30kmh limits fits with global goals for health, sustainability and the climate. Though at first glance speeds seem to be about roads, actually they are about people and the world we want to live in. Broad and lasting benefits accrue to people and planet from normalising 20mph/30kmh. Climate, safety, active travel, place-making, the economy and quality of life are all helped.  Lower speed limits have wins now and for future generations. Continue reading

30mph / 50kmh speeds aren’t cutting it for our 21st century lives. They’ve already been rejected by Spain, Wales and local authorities covering 1/3rd of UK population as not fit for purpose. Attend a free webinar on Thursday 20 May at 2.30pm for UN Global Road Safety Week on how nations are setting national default 20mph/30kmh for urban and village #streetsforlife. Continue reading

Global pressure is mounting on legislators to reset speed limits for #Streetsforlife – designed for flourishing human activities. Whether protecting humans and quality of life in Kent or Kenya, it’s 20mph/30kmh that’s global best practice where people mix with motors. Norming 20mph/30kmh is the sole call of the biennial UNGRSW by the UN and WHO. Local politicians must update policy to #ActOn20mph #Love20 #Love30. Ask National Government elected representatives for decisive action too. Email your MP Continue reading

Local governments in towns, cities and villages around the world are rejecting nationally set 30mph or 50km/h speed limits as no longer “fit for purpose” in meeting the needs of citizens and society. 20mph or 30km/h is now seen as the maximum safe speed limit where motor vehicles mix with pedestrians and cyclists unless there are adequate segregated and crossing provisions.  National governments should set 20mph or 30km/h as their national default urban/village speed limit. Continue reading

For the second Decade of Action for Road Safety the United Nations has endorsed the setting of 30km/h (20mph) maximum speed limits wherever pedestrians, cyclists or other vulnerable road users mix with motor vehicles. Continue reading

In 2019 the Welsh Government said that 20mph should be the default speed limit for residential areas. The Task Force Group it set up to “identify the practical actions needed to implement this change” has now reported. The Senedd will debate “Introducing 20mph Speed Limits in Wales” in its session on 15th July 2020. Continue reading

See our microsite dedicated to to supporting the call by doctors to lower the urban speed limit from 30mph to 20mph at www.20splenty.org/lower_baseline.  It includes Voxpops, FAQs, Supporters, etc The Covid-19 crisis is severely straining our medical services and economy. As well as increasing medical capacity, doctors are calling to “lower the baseline” of NHS demand for preventable reasons like road crashes by rapid introduction of public health policies.  Medical experts want emergency measures to reduce speed limits.  20’s Plenty for Us support their urgent requests for 20mph limits in built up areas to help the NHS and economy by saving hospital beds and resources[1]. [1] http://www.20splenty.org/covid-19_and_lower_speeds Continue reading

Global Road Safety Experts and Ministers from 130 countries adopted the “Stockholm Declaration” at a road safety conference on 20th February. It requires 30km/h (20mph) limits where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix - for safety, air quality and climate action. Continue reading

Ministers from around the world meet to adopt the “Stockholm Declaration” at a conference[1] in February which includes commitment to 30kmh (20mph) speed limits where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix. [1] https://www.roadsafetysweden.com/ Continue reading

20’s Plenty for Chester and Richmond groups have both won National 20’s Plenty Campaign Awards for 2019. Each did exceptional voluntary work with perseverance and success. Continue reading

Mark Ruskell’s ground-breaking private members bill to set a 20mph limit for most residential roads today gained support from Scottish Greens and Labour but was vetoed by SNP, Scottish Tories and LibDem SMPs. Responding to this regressive vote, campaigners are renewing urgent calls to set 20mph limits as the standard in Scottish communities! Continue reading

Transport for London’s (TfL) current consultation on 20mph limits[1] heralds a concerted bid to reduce speeds across the capital. It includes a range of measures to increase driver compliance. Support the consultation by 10 July.   [1] https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/streets/20/consultation/ Continue reading

20’s Plenty are dismayed with the RECC report[1]. The views are illogical, innumerate and deeply flawed. They show a shocking disregard for protecting the lives of vulnerable road users and promoting active travel.     [1] https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/REC/2019/5/31/Stage-1-Report-on-the-Restricted-Roads--20-mph-Speed-Limit---Scotland--Bill Continue reading

Bristol’s review on the future of its 20mph limits shows huge public approval and cost savings, confirming its massive success.  20mph works.   Continue reading

First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, today made a historic announcement that “The Welsh government believes that 20mph zones should be the default speed limit for residential areas. The Deputy Transport Minister, together with the Welsh Local Government Association, is taking forward work to identify the practical actions needed to implement 20mph speed limits in residential areas across Wales”[1]. [1] https://vimeo.com/334682259 Continue reading

The UK's Parliamentary Transport Committee has launched an inquiry into road safety. The scope of the inquiry is :- "The Transport Committee is concerned that progress increasing levels of road safety has levelled off and is launching an inquiry to scrutinise the Government’s approach to road safety, last set out in its 2015 road safety statement. The inquiry will investigate which changes would be most effective at reducing the number and severity of road traffic accidents." We submitted evidence to the committee on how a default 20mph urban and village speed limit would have a considerable positive effect on road safety. Our submission follows.  Continue reading

Jesse Norman MP, the Minister for Transport has written to Councils saying the “WS Atkins report confirms public support for 20mph”.  Many Local Authorities are now reviewing 20mph policies and re-interpreting DfT guidance. Continue reading

Back in 2014 the question for the government and DfT was whether 20mph limits were popular, are they the correct limit and should there be more of them. But the more we look at how the whole 20mph movement has developed we see that these questions have already been answered for us. Continue reading

20’s Plenty for Us welcomes the publication of the long-awaited DfT Evaluation of 20mph limits. It confirms the public support and acceptance of 20mph limits but has failed to meet the original DfT objectives or provide increased evidence on how to make our streets safer. Continue reading

Today the government published its long awaited report evaluating 20mph limit implementations. We welcome the report. It has been a long time coming since 2014 when it was commissioned. And in that time there have been nearly half a million casualties on streets with a 30mph limit. The report only evaluated a small number of case studies which in themselves only covered part of an authority. There are some useful indicators in the report, particularly around the negative aspects of police failing to routinely enforce 20mph limits and the need for national engagement and awareness on the benefits of reducing speeds below 30mph in residential and other roads. However, we have major reservations about the primary data used in the report around speed reductions and the complete failure of the study to look at sufficient casualty figures to be able to draw any conclusions that would be statistically credible. These were key reasons for the commissioning of the report and we are amazed at the choice of data measured which appears to be based on measuring what is available rather than what is meaningful.  Continue reading

20’s Plenty for Us calls for 20mph default speed limits for built up areas. It’s Halloween and children and parents say fast traffic is what scares them!  Road death is the number one killer of our children so reduce the danger with slower speeds. Continue reading

Adrian Berendt from Tunbridge Wells has won the National 20’s Plenty Campaigner of the Year Award for his outstanding voluntary work and commitment to bringing 20mph limits to Kent. Continue reading

Here are the 60 second videos we recorded at our 20's Plenty for Wales Conference from presenters and delegates. Note that this page may take a while to load. Continue reading

A sell out conference of 100 delegates met in Cardiff to share best practice on how to make streets healthier in Wales by reducing road risk at source through 20mph limits with a focus on 20mph as a national urban default. Click on each presenter to open their presentation or 60 second voxpop Continue reading

People want 20mph streets.  Fortunately, 20mph limits are affordable and do-able. What’s the best method? The Welsh Government can lead with a 20mph default for built up areas.  This is a cost-effective win-win all round – eg for the legal process, consultation, signage, engagement, higher compliance and enforcement. Continue reading

The Institute of Welsh Affairs in its recent report on “Decarbonising Transport in Wales”[1] has called for a default 20mph urban limit as a key recommendation to enable Wales to meet its projected energy demands entirely by 2035.   [1] http://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IWA_Decarbonising_Transport-1.pdf Continue reading

20’s Plenty for Us is now 400 campaign branches strong and UK-wide. Strathblane, Stirlingshire is the latest place where volunteers are being supported by the national 20mph campaign group lobbying for safer, better streets. Continue reading

The 9th annual 20’s Plenty conference is to be held in Cardiff on October 2nd 2018 with a Welsh perspective on 20mph limits. Hosted by Cardiff City Council and 20’s Plenty for Us it focuses on how 20mph limits support health and well-being. Continue reading

A much wider use of 20mph limits and a raft of measures to increase compliance are at the heart of a bold plan from Transport for London to reduce serious and fatal casualties in London to zero by 2041. The vital role that lower vehicle speeds can play is underscored as TfL calls on the UK government to amend the standard urban speed limit to 20mph. Continue reading

By collaborating with their police force, local authorities could institute public prosecutions for non-compliance with 20mph limits to transform community streets. Continue reading

51 fewer people suffered road trauma after Calderdale’s highly successful wide area 20mph limit project was implemented. A popular and well-coordinated wide area 20mph limit implementation will have prevented 30-40% of casualties over three years.  20’s Plenty congratulate this triumph of safer community streets. Continue reading

Leeds City Council have agreed that 20’s Plenty with signed 20mph. Campaigners are celebrating this win to civilise home streets. 20’s Plenty for Leeds call for driver engagement for behavior change. Also for city centre 20mph limits near shops. Continue reading

The International Transport Forum group of the OECD has just published its report on “Speed and Crash Risk” and has called for 30km/h (20mph) speed limits in built up areas where there is a mix of vulnerable road users and motor vehicles. Continue reading

The University of the West of England (UWE) has analysed the impact of 20mph roll-outs for Bristol City Council. It finds reductions of 2.7mph in average traffic speeds and an estimated cost saving of over £15m per year from fatal, serious and slight injuries avoided. Continue reading

Rod King MBE, Founder of 20’s Plenty for Us has been recognized by the Irish Road Victims Association (IRVA)[1]. He won the IRVA’s Global ‘Light of Hope’ Award 2017 in Mullingar, Ireland on 19th November, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Rod King has voluntarily campaigned for 20mph/30km/h road speed limits since 2005. Picture: via IRVA - Donna Price, Founder and Chairperson, presenting award. www.irva.ie [1] http://www.irva.ie/world-day-of-remembrance Continue reading

Far from having a “national” urban speed limit of 30mph, this has been rejected by local authorities for a quarter of the UK population.  All but two Inner London Boroughs and over half of the UK’s largest urban authorities now have a 20mph limit for most roads. Rather than just “recommending” 20mph limits the government should set a national 20mph limit and permit local authorities to justify any higher limits.  Continue reading

Sheffield city centre limits are to go 20mph. 20’s Plenty for Sheffield are celebrating another win. 30mph has been rejected in favour of 20mph as best practice. Campaigners are calling for a full driver engagement plan for behaviour change for safer streets.  Continue reading