Support grows for 20mph speed limit

Nearly half of drivers support reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in urban areas.

According to research from IAM RoadSmart, 44% of drivers surveyed agree all current 30mph limits should be replaced with a 20mph limit, a 13% increase from the same representative sample surveyed in 2014.

Areas outside schools were seen as the highest priority for reducing speed limits to 20mph, receiving support from an overwhelming 89% of respondents.

The main reasons put forward by supporters of a blanket reduction in the speed limit are to “make the roads safer” (49%) and “reduce accidents/saving lives” (24%).

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “Improving road safety is key but a blanket ban on reducing 30mph speed limits to 20mph speed limits isn’t necessarily the best route. Each situation needs to be decided on a case-by-case basis, with local considerations and consultation playing an important role.

“The key requirement for any 20mph zone must be that it is self-enforcing and self-explaining through signposting and road markings that makes sense, or by installing high quality traffic calming features.”