Speed limits should be reduced to 20mph in all built-up areas to save councils money, according to government advisers. The independent Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) is recommending scrapping the current 30mph limit in favour of a blanket 20mph default.
Cost Savings from Uniform Approach
Pacts argues that implementing 20mph zones on a case-by-case basis is expensive due to additional signage and paperwork. A blanket implementation would streamline the process and reduce costs. Jamie Hassall, executive director at Pacts, told MPs on the Commons transport committee that requiring authorities to create 20mph zones is ‘expensive’.
‘A much cheaper way is to mandate [the roads] as 20mph, and let the authority, if they want to move [the limit] up, give them that ability to do so,’ Hassall said. ‘A national approach that covers the majority and allows local decisions to increase speed limits, I would say, is a more sensible way forward.’
Motoring Groups React with Fury
The proposal has sparked anger among motoring groups, who accuse local authorities of using drivers as cash cows. Howard Cox, of the FairFuelUK campaign, said: ‘The 20mph zones are costly, leading to stop-start driving as drivers’ eyes are off the road and on the speedometer. Safety improves only through better road design, enforcement of real offences, and targeting risk factors.’
‘These limits are simply a dishonest and easy way to grab cash from one of the world’s already highest-taxed drivers,’ Cox added.
Current Adoption of 20mph Limits
Schemes to cut speed limits have become increasingly common across the UK as part of efforts to reduce crashes. Wales has already implemented 20mph as the default speed limit in built-up areas, while the Scottish Government has committed to imposing the limit on ‘those roads where it is appropriate to do so’.
In England, 62 out of 153 local authorities have adopted a similar policy. Last year, drivers were hit with a record 5.6 million penalty points, fuelled by the rise in slower zones. The Conservatives launched a plan in April that included a pledge to ‘end blanket 20mph schemes’.
