The majority of motorists are complying with Wandsworth’s borough-wide 20mph limit, early monitoring suggests.
Introduced in the summer of 2017, the 20mph limit applies to all residential ‘back streets’ and neighbourhoods. It was introduced in a bid to ‘make local roads safer’ and encourage the use of sustainable transport such as cycling and walking.
Speed checks carried out by the Met Police on nearly 7,000 vehicles found that more than 80% were sticking to the new lower limit.
A total of 1,331 vehicles (19%) were found to be exceeding the limit, with these drivers receiving a letter from the Met Police warning them that if they are caught again they will be prosecuted.
However, a number of drivers caught driving at excessive speeds did face legal action and points on their licence – including a pizza delivery driver who was travelling at 56mph in a residential street in Putney.
A comprehensive study of traffic speeds in the borough is currently underway.
Cllr Jonathan Cook, Wandsworth Council’s transport spokesman, said: “These early results are encouraging and show that the vast majority of motorists have slowed down and are observing the new 20mph limit.
“Hopefully those who have received letters from the police will have learned their lesson and slow down from now on.
“They can be sure that we will be continuing our joint community speed check exercises with the police so if they haven’t got the message to curb their speed, then chances are they will end up getting points on their licence.”
“may I advocate that there be chicanes built into the street scene”
Concealed speed cameras would be more effective with less impact on the law-abiding. Physical restrictions can give rise to accelerate-brake driving that maximises pollution.
Paul Luton, TEDDINGTON
--2
Has the Councillor heard of ISA, I wonder?
Andrew Fraser, Stirling
--3
Absolutely Hugh.
The police still have a habit of turning up to speeding complaint locations in hi viz with a speed gun, stay an hour and go reporting very low levels of non-compliance….and no further action required.
Choices. People in hi viz jackets for deterrent effect OR covert recording to capture what is really happening.
Pat, Wales
+8
I don’t want to be a kill-joy, but according to the background information, compliance was measured by visible speed monitoring which would obviously influence drivers (apart from the 20% who weren’t looking beyond the front of their vehicle anyway). A true picture of compliance would have to be via discreet speed measuring and regretfully, I think that would show much less compliance.
Hugh Jones
+20
Let me guess: judging by the carefully crafted phraseology used in this report, the traffic speeds today are about the same as they were before the 20mph speed limits were introduced? Presumably, if they are lower now than before, we would have been told.
Charles, England
+10
Congratulations, now we know that it will need a massive police presence all over the country at the beck and call in order to force compliance upon miscreants.
To save on police manpower may I advocate that there be chicanes built into the street scene. Say one every 100 yards or less and alternately placed, thus allowing the flow of slower moving traffic with priority on one side and then the other in order to slow the traffic down. It works here where I live and no humps.
bob craven
--4