Drivers to see hundreds of roads become 20mph in December as thousands | UK | News
The speed limit reduction on hundreds of roads from December will affect thousands of drivers in Scotland.
If you are walking on a road and you are hit by a vehicle going 30 miles per hour, you are seven times more likely to be fatal than if you were hit at 20 miles per hour. That’s why the Scottish Government is lowering speed limits in urban areas and pushing to make streets slower and safer.
Local authorities are working with Transport Scotland to reduce speeds in villages, towns and cities to improve road safety. However, it may slightly increase bus travel times.
North Ayrshire Council announced that the speed limit on some roads has been reduced from 30 mph to 20 mph. The changes will be implemented in stages, with more than 2,000 signs planned to be installed by March 2026.
Councilor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment and Economy, emphasized that “the need for lower speed limits on urban roads stems from concerns about road safety”.
He emphasized that “slower is safer” and that the aim is to make roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelers and motorists with fewer serious injuries. It is also hoped that by encouraging people to walk, cycle and wheelchair more, it will lead to a healthier lifestyle and benefit the local environment.
Statistics for 2022 underline the urgency of the initiative. There were 2,201 deaths on Scottish roads with a 30mph speed limit, including 623 serious injuries and 31 deaths.
Each local authority has the responsibility to decide which roads comply with the lower limit. The rollout will begin in the Springside area of Irvine, where 30mph signs will be replaced with 20mph signs between 8 and 10 December.
Official council documents detail: “The objectives intended to be achieved by reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on all suitable roads are a reduction in road collisions and, if a collision does occur, a reduction in the severity of that collision.
“Encourage changing the way we travel for shorter daily trips to reduce our carbon footprint and promote healthier lives. Improve our communities by reducing speeds where we live and grow.”
