Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Advocates are advocating for a significant reduction in UK speed limits, with some roadways potentially reduced to just 10 mph. The Road Safety Foundation (RSF) has proposed a substantial decrease in urban speed limits through the introduction of a new maximum. According to the proposal, roadways near schools, medical facilities, and heavily populated residential sectors could see limits reduced from 20 mph or 30 mph to as little as 10 mph.
Radical Proposals for Speed Limit Reductions
The RSF has additionally proposed adjustments to single-lane speed restrictions on undivided roadways and rural routes. The organization suggests a decrease of 40 mph, lowering the existing 60 mph limit to 20 mph. Dr. Suzy Charman, Executive Director of the RSF, noted that modifying speed is essential until infrastructure improvements get up to speed.
Justification for Proposed Changes
Speaking to The Times, Dr. Charman declared, “We possess a clear understanding of the speeds required to prevent the majority of traffic fatalities and severe injuries on Britain’s roadways.
“Our intention isn’t to enforce these speeds across all scenarios. Rather, we emphasize the need for either infrastructure enhancements or speed reductions. This ensures that traveled speeds align more closely with human tolerances in crash situations.”
However, the RSF has acknowledged that certain regions would remain unaffected by these sweeping suggestions.
Exceptions to the Rule
- 30 mph would still be permitted on certain roadways devoid of interaction between vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists.
- Elevated speed limits may persist on dual carriageways and motorways.
- This allowance is contingent upon substantial roadside infrastructure and complete separation from pedestrians and cyclists.
The Road Safety Foundation highlighted that these proposals aim to advance their ‘Vision Zero’ objective of eradicating all road deaths and severe injuries.
Contrasting Opinions
The UK has previously altered its speed limits, with Wales undergoing trials of mandatory 20 mph zones.
However, Hugh Bladon, a representative of the Alliance of British Drivers, dismissed the proposal as “so ridiculous it is simply laughable.”
He also stated that, “While banning all motorized transport might slightly reduce fatalities and injuries, it’s important to remember that horse-drawn carriages resulted in more deaths and injuries than motorized vehicles did, prior to modern transportation.”