20mph speed limit enforcement...at last

In the absence of town planning that places the needs of people above those of cars, widespread 20mph speed limits are a must. We can dream about the widespread dedicated cycle infrastructure, interconnected public transport and pedestrianised zones that have become standard practice in the Netherlands, but given we're already 50 years behind the Dutch approach, pragmatism demands we push for the second best offered by 20 mph limits.

Here at the ETA, we’re proud to have helped coin the phrase "Twenty's plenty" and thrilled that over the years it evolved into 20’s Plenty for Us, a campaign group we continue to support.

Given the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, there is no justification for 30 mph as the national speed limit. According to 20’s Plenty for Us, “The 30mph limit that was plucked out of the air in 1934 as being better than no limit, is no longer fit for purpose. It is unjust, unjustifiable and needs to be consigned to history."

There is no doubt that 20mph limits have numerous benefits. The introduction of 20mph speed limits in areas of London has contributed towards a 50 per cent reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured on the roads (see British Medical Journal) - these zones not only reduce casualty figures, they improve quality of life by transforming streets into areas where people are happy to cycle and children are able to play.

20mph enforcement...at last

Wandsworth council has announced it will fine the 25 per cent of motorists who break the 20mph speed limit on two of the borough's roads - the first time a local authority here in the UK has launched such a scheme.

Unfortunately the initial phase of the scheme will see speeding motorists issued with nothing more than a warning letter, but following that a penalty charge notice of £130 will have to be paid. According to the council, the scheme is not intended to replace the work of the police in tackling excessive speed.

Council leader Simon Hogg told TransportXtra: “Speeding traffic is one of the biggest sources of complaints we receive from our residents. Ensuring drivers stick to the 20mph limit not only improves safety levels and encourages more people to walk or cycle, it helps reduce harmful emissions."

“Until now, only the Metropolitan Police have had powers to enforce speed limits, but they tend to concentrate their resources on main roads and dual carriageways, whereas most of the complaints we receive are about people driving too fast along quieter residential streets.

Money from fines will be spent on other road danger reduction initiatives across the borough and if the Wandsworth pilot is a success other councils across the UK are likely to follow suit.

While the benefits of 20 mph limits are indisputable, enforcement remains a challenge. The Metropolitan Police oversees roads that see 5.5 million car trips every single day. Given that according to research by TfL, 87% of drivers break a 20 mph speed limit when they have an opportunity to do so, and that one third of London's streets are now subject to a 20mph limit, take a guess at how many drivers in London are penalised for breaking a 20 mph limit on a typical day. The answer is 117 - a figure so low as to be statistically insignificant. Read more

The ethical choice

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