Safe Speed Forums

Drivers face speed-camera blitz as more road limits are reduced to 20mph
By Ray Massey - Last updated at 4:58 PM on 16th December 2009

Motorists across Britain face a new speed-camera blitz under Government plans announced today to dramatically widen the use of 20mph limits.
Whole neighbourhoods will be given 20mph limit in a plan intended to dramatically reduce casualties among pedestrians and cyclists. Research shows that one in 40 pedestrians struck by a car at 20mph dies compared to one in five at 30mph.

The way to their widespread use across Britain was paved today when road safety minister Paul Clark announced that 20mph zones must no longer be accompanied by speed humps or other 'traffic calming' measures.
Safety first: The 20mph road plan intends to dramatically reduce casualties among pedestrians and cyclists
The Government wants to encourage councils to introduce the 20mph schemes into residential streets and other roads where cycle and pedestrian traffic is high, such as around schools, shops and parks.
The 'no-humps' plan follows a city-wide trial in Portsmouth, where early indications are that casualties have dipped by 15 per cent. Islington in north London is also making use of 20mph limits across the borough.
The schemes are likely to be enforced by 'average speed' cameras, which monitor a car to calculate if the driver has broken the speed limit by calculating its average speed between two or more cameras.
A 'd-cam,' a road traffic speed camera which requires no film, does not flash, and can photograph the driver as well as the numberplate
Wireless or 'wi-fi' cameras at key entry and exit roads log the vehicle's number plate and 'talk' to each other over the airwaves. New technology allowing them to communicate by wireless internet dramatically cuts the cost of the technology, making it much cheaper for councils to install the 20mph limit.
If the car's average speed is four miles per hour above the 20mph limit, the driver will get an automatic speeding ticket of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine through the post.
Mr Clark said:'Too many pedestrians and cyclists - including many children - are still being killed or hurt on the roads around their homes and schools.
'We have seen that 20mph zones with traffic calming measures can make a real difference to the safety of local roads.'
Ministers say many 20mph zones will be 'self-policing'.
They are also considering allowing more widespread use of variable 20mph signs, which will tell motorists at busy times of day - such as during the school run - that the limit is '20mph when lights flash' .
In a letter to local councils, Mr Clark said that while the Transport Department does not explicitly 'advise' the use of average speed cameras to police the limits, he notes: 'Transport for London is working with some London boroughs piloting the implementation of some 20mh zones where average speed cameras will play a roll in enforcing the limit.
'The evaluation of these pilots will show whether this approach has any benefits over existing measures and whether highway authorities may want to consider whether it is appropriate for their own areas.'
His letter adds:'Evidence from the use of average speed cameras shows that they are effective in reducing speeds over longer stretches of roads.'
AA president Edmund King said: 'We need to introduce a broad degree of common sense when dealing with speed restrictions. What we don't want to see is local authorities adopting an over-zealous approach. '
A series of councils have already expressed an interest in installing the 20mph average speed-zone, including Camden, Southwark, and Waltham Forest, all in London, and Plymouth and Norwich.
Speed-Check, the company behind the new system, said that there is no limit to the area which the cameras can cover. The aim is to stop drivers slowing down at a conventional fixed-site camera and then swiftly speeding up again - known as 'surfing'.
Rob Gifford of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety welcomed the Government's commitment new 20mph zones but accepted: 'Councils are bound to take up cameras if they think it is the only way to ensure compliance.'
The new 20mph zone policy is part of the Government's road safety review aimed at reducing casualties.
As part of this, ministers have already announced in April that drivers face being banned after just two speeding offences with penalty points being doubled to six points for drivers who exceed the speed limit by 15mph in a 20mph or 30mph area, or by 20mph in higher speed zones.
About 2 million drivers a year currently receive speeding tickets.
The Government also renewed its call to local councils to review speed limits on rural roads by 2011.
It wants councils to consider reducing the 60mph speed limit - possibly to 50mph - on the most accident-prone single-carriageway A and B roads.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0Zsb9i0JD

Research shows that one in 40 pedestrians struck by a car at 20mph dies compared to one in five at 30mph.

The 'no-humps' plan follows a city-wide trial in Portsmouth, where early indications are that casualties have dipped by 15 per cent.

Mr Clark said:'Too many pedestrians and cyclists - including many children - are still being killed or hurt on the roads around their homes and schools.

They are also considering allowing more widespread use of variable 20mph signs, which will tell motorists at busy times of day - such as during the school run - that the limit is '20mph when lights flash' .

Rob Gifford of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety welcomed the Government's commitment new 20mph zones but accepted: 'Councils are bound to take up cameras if they think it is the only way to ensure compliance.'

I'll just drive at 20 in a 20 limit.
I may even drive at 20 in a 30 limit, if I consider that 20 is more appropriate than 30...

I'll just drive at 20 in a 20 limit.
I may even drive at 20 in a 30 limit, if I consider that 20 is more appropriate than 30...
Don't let yourselves be persuaded that this is "road safety" or "cash cow" thinking.
Wait for the 40mph bus lanes with 20mph "other" lanes, then things may get clearer.