20 mph speed limit to cover whole of York?

With the Labour Council keen to implement their manifesto “promises” – no matter what the safety or financial consequences – it seems that they now intend to impose a City-wide 20 mph speed limit.
It is an issue which divides the City although polls reveal that over 65% of residents oppose a blanket speed limit reduction.

At present the council implements what is considered to be the most appropriate speed limit for individual stretches of road. Potential accident risks are taken into account. Most schools and shopping areas now have 20 mph limits. In addition, traffic calming (road humps) were introduced in areas like Foxwood and Gale Lane where accident levels were high.

The policy has contributed to a gradual reduction in the numbers killed or seriously injured on roads in York. Very few of the accidents occurred in residential areas and those that did were distributed on a random basis. In no case could any be traced to an endemic problem with high speeds.

The pros and cons of a blanket reduction in the speed limit have been debated at length. But the most telling point is that the Police have consistently said that they simply don’t have the resources to routinely enforce such a limit. Instead they intend to concentrate their resources on accident black spots. They have had a lot of success with their mobile speed cameras which initially revealed a shocking disregard for the speed limits (60/70 mph) on some of our major roads (the A1237 and the A64 for example).

Against that background a trial of 20 mph zones in various areas was introduced. These included an area in Fishergate and the Milner Street/Gladstone Street area in Acomb. In both cases vehicle speeds were already very low.

A larger area trial in South Bank was also scheduled. “Consultations” are starting this week on a June implementation date for this scheme.

In all these cases the limits were viewed as being “self enforcing” given the layout of the highways affected.

The council now faces a dilemma. If it changes its policy and introduces a wide area ban then – for it to be enforceable – any roads excluded from the default limit would need repeater signs at regular intervals. Such signage would be both costly and intrusive. It could mean a bill of around £1 million for taxpayers.

The configuration of many of our estates means that average speeds don’t exceed 20 mph anyway. So the introduction of a formal limit – apart from the cost – would have little practical difference.
However, if major roads – those classed as A, B & C – were routinely included then the impact could be substantial.

A report is due to be considered by the Council on 3rd May. It is likely to recommend that the revised speed limit be introduced in stages over the next 3 years. The south and west York (including Acomb) would come in the first phase.

One of the major impacts would be an increase in emission levels as vehicle gearing is not optimised for sustained 20 mph running.

Fuel economy would also suffer – further exacerbating the “crisis at the pumps”.

Watch the Council web site for further details and a promised “consultation”.

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