Calderdale’s Myra James was announced as 20’s Plenty for Us National Campaigner of the year at the 20mph Conference on 12 March.  It recognises her successful volunteering to win 20mph limits across Calderdale’s streets.

The City of Westminster continues to have the highest road casualties in London. Whilst most Inner London boroughs, including the City of London are embracing borough-wide 20mph limits Westminster Council continues with limits 50% higher. 

Transport Scotland has issued new guidance which replaces that in its outdated 2001 circular. The new guidance embraces 20mph limits “near schools, in residential areas and in other areas of our towns and cities where there is a significant volume of pedestrian or cyclist activity”.

Highly respected Transport Consultancy Steer Davies Gleave (SDG) have recommended area-wide 20mph limits spread across London. SDG confirm that speed limit reductions give safety benefits and stress the need for a signs only approach complemented by driver engagement.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has recommended that the EU adopts a series of standard maximum speed limits.  ETSC says 20mph should be EU wide in residential areas and those with high levels of pedestrians and cyclists.

The Journal of Public Health has published a paper summarising research on 20mph zones and limits. Scientific literature confirmed that 20mph is effective at improving public health via reduced accidents and injuries.

The 20’s Plenty for Us campaign, supported by VISION 2020 UK, is calling for a 20mph default speed limit in residential streets without physical calming in order to protect vulnerable road users, including those who are blind and partially-sighted.

Edinburgh’s 20mph limit trial showed improved popularity, perceptions of safety and cycling and walking levels. Cycling to school trebled.  Parental permission for outside play doubled.  Speeds and car use fell.  Proposals extend the benefits citywide.

IAM analysis of DfT casualty figures for 2013 show that as the total number of 20mph roads increases, so do the total number of casualties, but their conclusion that this is evidence of increased danger shows a woeful lack of understanding of statistics.

The City of London Corporation will implement a 20mph limit on all its roads from 20th July. The square mile’s new lower limit will improve safety and the quality of life in the Capital’s financial hub. 

British capital cities are embracing wide 20mph speed limits. Lewisham will soon join nine other London Boroughs at 20mph. Edinburgh's plans for 20mph cover high streets and residential roads. Cardiff’s 20mph pilot has been installed. The streets of Paris will soon be almost entirely 30kmh (18mph).

Calderdale is the first West Yorkshire Council set to approve a wide area Total 20mph limit residential road policy.  Key is a commitment of £500k of public health funds for engagement and persuading drivers of the advantages of slower speeds.

It’s Time for 20 – Time for DfT to end the needless imposition of 20mph repeater signs and be more flexible

Whilst the Department for Transport and central government both encourage 20mph limits for residential streets, the DfT’s needlessly stringent repeater signage regulations are a barrier to smoothly transitioning to slower speeds.  The UK’s road speed signage rules are out of date and a new ‘Flexi-20’ system is a proposed solution.

Academics at UWE Bristol’s Social Marketing Centre have analysed a YouGov survey and concluded that, whilst most Britons want and intend to abide by 20mph limits for residential and busy streets, they see the need for enforcement.

The British Academy have a published a policy advice collection in which Prof Danny Dorling clearly lays out the evidence for wide 20mph limits as his top policy to tackle health inequalities. Entitled “If you could do one thing..” it is a guide for Local Authorities by nine leading Social Science academics.

Public Health England (PHE) in cooperation with the Local Government Association (LGA) have recommended that Local Authorities implement wide area 20mph limits to stimulate active travel and tackle obesity. 20mph limits is the top evidenced based policy to raise British people’s regular exercise levels.

20mph: LGiU briefing says area wide 20mph limits are a win, win, win for Local Authorities

The Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) commissioned and researched an independent policy briefing recommending that Local Authorities implement wide area 20mph limits.

Birmingham plans for 90% of its roads to have a 20mph limit. 
The UK’s biggest transport authority with over 1 million residents announced wide 20mph just one week after the City of London made its decision. With Cardiff and Edinburgh saying 20’s Plenty too, 20mph is spreading.

71% of adults want residential speed limits of 20 mph in the 2010 British Social Attitudes Survey.