Cut down speed cut down casualties
New 20mph speed limits might come into effect.
New research reveals that roads introduced with new 20mph speed limits as well as physical measures have greatly reduced casualties and incidents compared to roads without.
What’s the purpose of this?
The project has been set out to gather data from European countries as well as the UK where towns and cities are introducing 20mph speed limits on the roads. The aim of the data is to see if 20mph speed limits can reduce road incidents and casualties.
Is it effective?
The report shows that lower speeds can greatly assist in reducing road casualties but depends on whether the limits are supported by other measures, such as road humps and other physical restrictions.
In the UK, the limits resulted in approximately 11% fewer casualties than before they were introduced. This figure rises to 40% when physical measures are introduced, which greatly reduces people’s speed. When there are no physical measures there is a low percentage of people that comply with the 20mph speed restrictions
The Road Safety Trust – “This report shows that public money spent on self-enforcing 20mph zones has substantially greater effects than when it is spent on just the signs and road markings of 20mph limits.”
When could these come into place?
As the new recent data shows that the restrictions have a positive result in restricting speeding and road incidents, therefore the government is planning to continue adding more of these to Uk roads. This is part of the government’s to reduce unnecessary car usage and make sure 50% of journeys will be walked or cycled by 2023.
