Welsh campaign enforces ‘important and vital’ 20mph limits

12.00 | 27 June 2017 | | 4 comments


Image: Go Safe (@GoSafeCymru) via Twitter.

All four Welsh police forces will use a week-long enforcement campaign to highlight the ‘importance of sticking to the speed limit’ – particularly where the limit is 20mph.

The enforcement week, which got underway yesterday (26 June), has been organised by the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, Go Safe, as part of its #20mphrule outside school campaign. It is supported by the Welsh Government.

In South Wales, police officers will be working to educate and enforce 20mph limits – especially around schools and other areas of community interest.

Chief inspector Daryl Fahey, South Wales Police, says 20mph zones are an ‘important and vital’ means of protecting the most vulnerable.

During the equivalent campaign last year, police forces across Wales caught more than 1,000 drivers driving in excess of the limit in a 20mph zone.

Chief inspector Daryl Fahey said: “Drivers need to be aware that if they exceed the speed limit they are committing an offence. Our week of enforcement will target those speeding, but of course we expect motorists to follow the limit at all times.

“Driving in excess of the speed limit within a 20mph zone, significantly increases the probability of causing injury or worse to our most vulnerable.”

Teresa Healy, operations manager, GoSafe said: “Our speed reduction officers will be out in all four police forces throughout the campaign and we would encourage communities to engage with them and find out more about what we do.

“Any drivers caught speeding, and who are eligible, will be offered a specialised driver education course focused on 20mph speed limits which are designed to educate them about the risks of speeding in 20mph limits.”

The first 20mph speed limit was introduced in the UK in 1991 and since then they have widely been adopted by local authorities as a traffic calming measure and a way of reducing the impact of motor vehicles within communities.

In Scotland a Private Member’s Bill is currently out for consultation which would see 20mph become the default limit in urban areas across the country.

There are also two current research studies into the effectiveness of 20mph limits – one being carried out by Atkins on behalf of the DfT, with results anticipated at the end of this year/early 2018, and the other by the University of Edinburgh with results in around four years’ time.

 

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    It’s often the way drivers speed, not just the speed in absolute terms, which is cause for concern and requires targeting i.e. the difference between a steady or trailing throttle at or around 20 say and reckless acceleration up to and beyond the limit and which severely reduces reaction and stopping times – but try telling the speeders that! – whoosh – over their head!


    Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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    I agree that it is an offence to drive at 31 mph but according to ACPO, now the NPCC, Chief police Officers have stated in a paper in 2012 that they will not necessarily take action for speeding unless whatever speed limit is exceeded by 10% plus 2 mph. ie 30 becomes 35mph or 20 becomes 24mph.

    I therefore presume that under their advice a 24 mph speed could be driven in a 20 limit and not necessarily be prosecuted by the police.

    I further made the point that the injury differential between the old 30 mph and the new 20 mph is presumed great but if traffic as allowed to drive at 24mph surely the injury differential is not as great and therefore if 24 mph is to be the minimum speed for police action the degree of injury is still greater than if it were actioned at 20 mph?

    Just some observations.


    Bob Craven Lancs
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    Bob

    It is an offence to drive at 21mph in a 20mph limit. Just like it is an offence to drive at 31mph in a 30 limit. The practicalities of enforcement and proof are separate.

    And even taking your case then surely you would have to equate a practically enforceable 24mph with a practically enforceable 35mph. ie 11mph difference rather than the 5mph you have implied.


    Rod King, Warrington, Cheshire, 20’s Plenty for Us
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    Whilst we have officers viewing those roads and streets that have a 20 mph area perhaps they can make a mental note that at 20 mph one needs to be some 40 ft behind the vehicle in front and make note just how many vehicles that are far too close to the vehicles in front. It’s easy to measure 40 ft along any stretch of road and anything found to be within that is actually tailgating.

    Further to that, does the local constabulary support the NPCC in their policy of allowing 10% plus 2 mph above such a limit before any action is taken which would make it no offence up to and including 24 mph.

    If so then that somewhat negates some of the safer aspects of a lower speed if 20 mph is safer than 30 mph just what safety is afforded by drivers doing almost 25 mph.


    Bob Craven Lancs
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