Please Pass a Default (most roads) 20mph Speed Limit Parish Motion

Sept 2021 – Briefing for North Yorkshire Parish Councillors

1. Introduction

This briefing asks Parish Councillors to please put on your Parish Council agenda, and vote through, a motion supporting normalising 20mph in settlements. It has been prepared by Anna Semlyen, 20’s Plenty for Us National Campaign Manager with the 20s Plenty for North Yorkshire campaign group.

20’s Plenty for North Yorkshire began in September 2021, comprising many village groups. All are branches of 20s Plenty for Us, the National Campaign for 20mph limits. We meet regularly on zoom.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 16th December 2021 at 7.30pm using this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5861366730

Do please join these by checking our facebook 20’s Plenty for North Yorkshire.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2012586572255626)  seeing our twitter @20sPlentyNYorks

and email 20sPlentyforNorthYorkshire@gmail.com 

Please consider joining 20s Plenty – email anna.s@20splenty.org or phone 07572120439 for a free joining pack with free stickers https://www.20splenty.org/stickers_and_campaign_materials

2. Summary

• 20 mph limits prioritise quality of life, helping create places where human activity – including walking, cycling and talking - takes precedence over traffic movement.

• We ask Parish Councils across North Yorkshire to pass motions of support for Countywide default 20mph limits as County policy. And to write to the North Yorkshire leader and us once the motion is passed, to publicise it and build pressure.

• “This parish/town council supports the implementation of 20mph as the default speed limit for our parish and in all the urban and village streets in North Yorkshire where people live, work, shop, play and learn.  This parish councils will write to the Leader and Cabinet Member for the Highway Authority (currently North Yorkshire County Council) to implement a County wide policy on this issue to support 20mph as the default limit with higher limits only where the needs of vulnerable road users are fully taken into account”

• Show the 7 min video  https://vimeo.com/605870288 on why 20mph is better than 30mph.

• 20 mph limits are affordable and have significant road safety, societal, environmental, economic and climate benefits. Benefits do not depend on being regular Police enforcement – any reduction in average speed will reduce traffic danger, particularly to people walking and cycling. 20mph is accepted as normal by authorities representing 25 million people in the UK and are globally seen as best practice where people mix with motor traffic.  They do not affect journey times significantly in smaller settlements.

• Philip Allott, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, tweeted that he will “support and implement 20mph in urban locations, where local authorities are prepared to support it”.

• 20 mph limits are popular – Government surveys find 71% in favour in residential streets.

• Compliance with 20 mph limits that do not have to rely on Police enforcement. Soon all new cars will automatically observe speed limits. In car speed limiters come into new models in April 2021

• The cost of a village wide 20 mph limit has two main components: design and consultation phase and implementation of signs. Costs depend on if it is possible to use existing signposts.  Implementing a village-wide 20 mph limit is £5-10 per head mostly the £5k for the legal Traffic Regulation Order, which can be shared across many settlements if done together

• Funding sources include the County, Govt Grants, pressure to change the national limit, house builder developer contributions to village / town improvement funds – CIL and section 106.  

• Scheme design involves detailing how many signs are placed where. Painted on the road roundels are also an option.  Also designing a consultation with residents on the proposed scheme and engagement on why 20mph is beneficial with both paper and digital response methods. Plus, a social marketing policy developed on explaining the benefits to drivers to increase compliance.

3. 'What's the difference between 20 mph zones and 20 limits?

20mph zones using physical calming very effectively reduce traffic speeds and collisions at localised locations but are excessively expensive.  North Yorkshire County Council policy favours 20 mph zones which are self-enforcing, normally by installing traffic calming.  Many highway authorities elsewhere in the UK are now establishing extensive 20 mph limits and zones without any additional physical calming. Humps are not required for 20mph limits to be effective and are not usually good value for money.  Signs and public engagement are seven times better value for money.

20mph limits are now being introduced in villages, towns and cities throughout the UK – including more than half of the 40 largest local authorities.  They involve installing road signs and markings to inform road users of the change in the maximum legal driving speed. They can be enforced by the police, like any other speed limit, but although enforcement increases the effectiveness of the 20 mph limits, it is not essential to achieve worthwhile benefits.

20 mph limits prioritise quality of life, helping to create places where human activity – including walking, cycling and talking - takes precedence over traffic movement.

20 mph limits are supported by Government.  Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 1/13^[1] ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’ states that ‘Traffic authorities are asked to…consider the introduction of more 20 mph limits and zones, over time, in urban areas and built-up village streets that are primarily residential, to ensure greater safety for pedestrians and cyclists…’

The importance of encouraging more people to make short journeys on foot and cycle has become even more apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic.  In November 2020 DfT published new statutory guidance to local authorities on their duties under the Traffic Management Act 2004^[2].  This states that local authorities should ‘swiftly’ take measures to encourage active travel and notes that they include: ‘Reducing speed limits: 20mph speed limits are being more widely adopted as an appropriate speed limit for residential roads, and many through streets in built-up areas.’

20 mph limits are supported by many other bodies including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Association of Directors of Public Health, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, Alzheimer’s Society, UK Health Forum, and Public Health Wales.

In July 2020 the Welsh Government voted to introduce legislation to make 20 mph the default speed limit for all urban areas in Wales, with 30 mph limits becoming the exception, and with a target date of April 2023 for the law change.  The Task Force which advised the Welsh Government was chaired by Phil Jones.^[3] Scotland agreed it as policy in Aug 2021.

The UN Global push for road danger reduction in 2021 for the Global road safety week in May 17-23rd 2021 focused on 20mph/30kmh as the developing standard. Spain and the Netherlands have agreed it.

4. Benefits

The evidence (reviewed below) shows that the benefits of introducing a 20mph limit to villages and towns in North Yorkshire would include:

• SAFER STREETS FOR ALL, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY

Significantly less risk of serious injury especially for vulnerable road users; less intimidation from motor vehicles for all road users and especially those walking and cycling.

• PROMOTING ACTIVE HEALTH FOR RESIDENTS

Reinforcing healthy lifestyles by encouraging walking and cycling

• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

Reduced vehicle emissions and noise due to lower speeds and traffic volumes

• BETTER COMMUNITY LIFE AND A POSITIVE IMAGE FOR NORTH YORKSHIRE VILLAGES AND TOWNS

20mph enables lifestyle changes, renewed community life, sociability and the positive atmosphere we all want where we live. Villages and towns within the county will become more attractive, liveable and sustainable places, in keeping with their growing eco-friendly ethos.

• STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL ECONOMY

20mph aids local business as people want to shop and live in 20mph places.

• POSITIONING NORTH YORKSHIRE AS A LEADER

The trend towards 20mph is well-established in the UK and other countries. 20mph would place North Yorkshire more firmly on the map and encourage other positive investments for our towns and villages.

• Quieter streets too. 20mph cuts noise by 3 decibels, heard as half as noisy.

5. Road Safety

People struck by a motor vehicle are at least 5 times less likely to die if hit at 20mph than 30mph.  This increases to 10 times if the pedestrian is over 60 years old. 30mph is like a 3rd floor building fall, 20mph a first floor. 20mph is 3.6m and 30mph is a 8.8m fall – too dangerous!

In the distance a 20mph car can stop, a 30mph car will still be moving at 24mph.

It is important to recognise that any reduction in vehicle speed reduces the risk of injury and death. Research quoted by DfT in Circular 1/13 (see above) found that on urban roads with low average traffic speeds any 1 mph reduction in average speed can reduce the collision frequency by around 6%.^[4]

Road safety is therefore improved even when full compliance with the 20 mph limit, whether through traffic calming or enforcement, is not achieved.  Studies (see Bristol case study. below) have confirmed that relatively small changes in average speed result in significant casualty savings; and that speed reductions are greatest on the fastest roads where the risk of casualties is the highest.

Visually, the driver sees more peripherally at 20mph than 30mph.

Over time, as 20 mph limits become more established, it is expected that average speeds will reduce further, aided by changing attitudes and technologies such as Intelligent Speed Assistance (see Enforcement, below).

6. Public Opinion

Repeated studies have shown that 20 mph limits are popular. The most recent National Travel Attitudes Study carried out by DfT^[5] found that 71% of people are in favour of 20 mph speed limits in residential streets (which describes the majority of streets in North Yorkshire villages).  Once schemes are installed support for the 20mph limit typically increases.

7. Case Studies

20 mph limits have been introduced to large parts of cities, to towns and to villages.  Some examples are given below:

London

Most parts of London now have a 20 mph limit (green on the map below)

Bristol

Similarly, much of Bristol is 20 mph (blue on the map below)

The Bristol 20 mph project has been the subject of extensive academic study.^[6] This found that speeds across the city had reduced by an average of 2.7mph and that over 160 casualties per year had been avoided, including 5 fatalities.

Faversham

Faversham is an historic market town of 20,000 people in Kent. 20’s Plenty for Faversham instigated the introduction of a town-wide 20 mph limit, which went live in June 2020.  

Faversham 20 mph limit area

Kent County Council was initially opposed to a town-wide limit but was persuaded by the strength of local support and the technical case made.^[7]  It was successfully demonstrated that a 20 mph limit covering the whole town would be cheaper (because no changes in speed limit would need to be signed) and more effective, since drivers would find it easier to comprehend.

Low-cost techniques to reduce traffic speeds have been accepted by the highway authority, such as attractive gateways to the settlement announcing the change in speed limit, the removal of road centrelines (which has been shown to lower average speeds by up to 4 mph) and ‘Community Corners’, resident-led measures such as planters at key locations^[8].

There is no reason such techniques could not be used in towns and villages throughout North Yorkshire.

8. Enforcement

• 20 mph limits are like any other speed limit and are enforceable by the Police.  Policies regarding speed limit enforcement do vary between police authorities – some, such as the Metropolitan Police in London, actively enforce all 20 mph limits.  
• Philip Allott, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, tweeted that he will “support and implement 20mph in urban locations, where local authorities are prepared to support it”.

Even without regular enforcement, research shows 20 mph limits reduce speeds, collisions and casualties.  Furthermore, driver education through community engagement can help drivers to voluntarily comply with 20mph. The Parish Council could encourage local residents to put stickers in their bumpers showing that they choose to drive at 20 mph.

Such compliant drivers become pacer vehicles which enforce 20mph on the traffic behind them. Community Speedwatch also has a part to play – whereby drivers exceeding the speed limit are sent warning letters.  Speed Indication Devices (SIDs) could be used and be reprogrammed with the new speed limit.

In the near future Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) will progressively reduce the need for active enforcement, however.  From May 2022 all new model cars sold in the EU and the UK will have ISA fitted as standard.  This will prevent the car exceeding the limit unless the driver consciously pushes past a point of resistance on the accelerator.  From May 2024 the requirement for ISA will apply to all new cars sold.

Although drivers can override the limiter, research shows that most choose not to, and in fact welcome the reassurance that they are not breaking the law inadvertently.  The car will also record if the speed limit has been exceeded in the event of a collision, which may affect the driver’s liability.

Intelligent Speed Assistance

9. Costs

20 mph limits tend to be much cheaper than 20 mph zones, except possibly where zones are extended with signage. Most of the costs are for the provision of the signs themselves.

Detailed costs are difficult to estimate at this stage, as they will depend on the extent of the scheme and how many new signposts are required. As an example, If the 20mph limit covers the current extent of a typical North Yorkshire village 30 mph limit it will only be necessary to place full size (600mm diameter) ‘terminal’ signs at the entrances to the village using the existing signposts. In addition many councils still place small (300mm diameter) ‘repeater’ signs or surface ‘roundel’ markings at regular intervals through the village – DfT guidance is that these are spaced no more than 200m apart (although this is not mandatory). It should be possible to mount most of these signs on existing street lighting columns or signposts, thus minimising costs.

Recent 20 mph limit schemes have been delivered for around £3 in cities and £5-6 per head in villages. Funding for speed limit changes normally comes from the Highway Authority.  In some cases it could come from developer funds through section 106 monies and community infrastructure levy (CIL)

Note that carriageway painted roundels could be used instead of repeater signs.

Although such signs are not mandatory, the local authority still has a duty to ensure that drivers are aware of the limit and any enforcement could be challenged on the basis of inadequate signage. It would then be up to the local authority to defend its position.  Police may be reluctant to enforce limits where local authority discretion to reduce signage has been used.

Note that within a 20mph limit (or zone) the requirement for lighting on many hazard warning signs is removed. This can make a reduction in ongoing highway maintenance costs.

Highway maintenance costs also reduce from less wear on potholes due to speed related damage.

10. Next Steps

This briefing has described how and why to pass a Parish motion for a 20mph limit as normal in your parish and for North Yorkshire towns and villages.  Speed limits are set by North Yorkshire County Council as Highway Authority, who are responsible for making the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders and erecting the signs.  

Being able to demonstrate local support will be critical to securing the County’s agreement to taking forward 20mph limits. A parish council vote for 20mph limits to support the 20’s Plenty for North Yorkshire would help progress the campaign.

Photos and videos of support from Parish Councillors once the motion is passed to share on social media, would support traction amongst other Parish Councils in the county to come on board. For instance, holding a 20mph poster with the village sign. We attach a poster.

Thank you

@20sPlentyNYorks

Facebook 20’s Plenty for North Yorkshire https://www.facebook.com/groups/2012586572255626)  

20sPlentyforNorthYorkshire@gmail.com

Cllr John Brassington, Barkston Ash Parish Councillor – Parish Council supports 20mph

Emma Hope, Sherburn-in-Elmet resident – Parish Council 2021 vote for 20mph limit

Ian Conlan, Malton resident

Malcolm Margolis, Harrogate resident

20’s Plenty for Us

…making your place a better place to be