Have your say on proposals for safer roads for all
A consultation is now open asking residents for their feedback on proposals for safer 20 miles per hour (mph) limits on around 100 of the city’s most dangerous roads.
The proposals follow detailed analysis of every 30mph road in the city and are part of a wider push to end deaths and serious injuries on our roads and enable children and adults to travel more safely around our city.
The council’s Transport and Connectivity Committee reviewed proposals last month and considered evidence that shows lower speeds would significantly improve safety. The roads being proposed make up 8% of Bristol’s road network but account for 30% of all serious and fatal crashes.
The consultation will run for six weeks until Sunday 17 May. Bristol residents are being invited to share their opinions on the proposed changes.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “This is a rare opportunity to significantly improve safety across the whole city. Speed has been scientifically proven to be a key factor in making crashes more likely and more severe when they happen.
“20mph speed limits make it safer for children to travel to school, create calmer environments for walking and cycling, and improve safety for drivers. 20mph limits result in smoother driving which typically means reduced fuel costs and improved air quality. These proposals will help make our roads safer and more reliable for all road users.”
“I look forward to considering the views of residents to inform future decisions.”
The project aims to improve safety without impacting most journey times, as the average driving speed along the roads under consideration is already below 20mph. Safer limits would reduce dangerous top speeds and harsh braking without increasing most journey times. Where there is an impact on driving time, such as during especially quiet periods with low traffic, this is estimated to be as little as 2-6 seconds.
Council officers have carefully considered lessons from Wales, where the default speed limit on street-lit roads was recently reduced to 20mph. The change was one of the most successful and cost-effective road safety measures in UK history, preventing around 1 in 4 casualties on the roads. It also resulted in a reduction in average car insurance premiums by around £50 a year.
Despite saving many lives, the change received criticism for taking a blanket approach and including a small number of unsuitable roads which may now change back to 30mph. Bristol is therefore taking a different approach to Wales by assessing every road individually to ensure suitability for 20mph.
Bristol City Council does not have powers to enforce speed limits but supports Avon and Somerset Police by sharing information about speeding hot spots. All speeding fines go directly to central government.
The proposals come on the back of recent £970,000 maintenance works which are improving safety by resurfacing areas with some of the city’s worst potholes.
To have your say on the proposed changes, fill out the consultation.
