Safer streets, better neighbourhoods – second phase of 20mph speed limits

After extensive consultation a wider implementation of second phase of 20mph speed limits is being proposed. The areas will cover roads outside the hospital, schools, routes to schools, roads outside parks and playgrounds, sports and leisure facilities, community buildings, older people’s care homes, local shops and roads in busy shopping areas.

The proposal will be considered at Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 4th March. The report takes into account all comments and objections sent to the council in response to the formal traffic orders - which are legally required to change speeds on the city’s roads.

Councillor Pete West, Chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee, said: “We have consulted widely on 20mph and our report addresses all the concerns and comments raised.

“As we found previously, the majority of residents who responded were in favour of introducing 20mph.

“Many residents even said that our proposals didn’t go far enough. We’ve taken on board the public support, and listened to the safety advice from officers, who are recommending that we proceed with slower speeds on Surrenden Road, Preston Drove and Stanford Avenue.“

Over 700 residents signed a petition to include these roads and a large number objected to the three roads being excluded – around 70 for each one. Brighton and Hove Bus Company is not opposed to them becoming 20mph either. These roads were in the original proposals but were taken out following amendments passed at a previous committee meeting.

Councillor West continued: “Brighton & Hove continues to be among the worst places in the UK for road safety. Slower speeds are widely supported by residents in the streets where they live, and the benefits of 20mph areas are recognised nationally. We have already seen a reduction in casualties in Brighton & Hove’s existing 20mph area.”

If agreed at committee, the general second phase of 20mph speed limits will come into effect in early summer. If agreed, the three additional roads that are recommended for inclusion will be progressed with a final decision being taken at committee later in the spring.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Read the full report on the committee agenda here

Despite year-on-year falls in the number of people being killed and seriously injured on Brighton & Hove’s roads, the city has one of the highest casualty rates per mile of road outside London, with Brighton & Hove the fourth worst. Government figures show Brighton & Hove had 51 casualties per 10,000 residents in 2007, falling to 42 in 2011 and 35 per 10,000 residents in 2012.

The first phase of 20mph speed limits was introduced in April 2013 in the city centre. Early monitoring over the first six months showed a decrease in traffic speed on 74% on the roads, a significant reduction in the number of collisions, and no fatal collisions in the area since 20mph was introduced.

Speed significantly increases the chance of being injured in a collision. One of the first studies by ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) of pedestrian injury and car impact speed found that at 20mph there was a 2.5% chance of being fatally injured, compared to a 20% chance at 30mph.

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/highway/info/20-mph-zone-factsheet.pdf