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ITEM EX11

EXECUTIVE – 6 APRIL 2005

20 MPH SPEED LIMITS

Report by Interim Head of Transport

Introduction

  1. On 3 April 2002 the Executive approved the development of a speed management strategy including a hierarchy of roads to help set a consistent framework for all new speed limits and focus on the most effective limits promoted within works programmes. Progress on developing the hierarchy was reported to the Executive on 15 April 2003, when the Executive also received the report of the Community Safety Scrutiny Review, Road Safety and the 30 mph Speed Limit Project.

  2. In adopting the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review the Executive agreed to set up a Task Force with a remit (among other things) to oversee the development of the Speed Management Strategy. In practice member attendance at meetings of the Task Force has been confined to the councillors nominated by the Community Safety and Environment Scrutiny Committees (Councillors Julian Cooper, Jelf, Joslin and Wilmshurst) together with officers from Environment & Economy and representatives from the Thames Valley Police.

  3. The Executive has considered and agreed criteria developed by the Task Force for 50, 40, and 30 mph limits. This report proposes criteria for 20 mph limits and zones. A copy of the Department for Transport’s advisory leaflet covering 20 mph speed limits and zones is available for inspection in the Member’s Resource Centre.

    4. Background

  4. There are increasing calls for 20 mph limits and zones; a limit generally covers a single route while a zone encompasses an area of several streets. Limits need repeater signs and although zones do not require them they must have a minimum level of calming. Due to difficulties in funding traditional enforcement measures government guidelines strongly advise that 20 limits and zones should be largely self-enforcing. This is achieved by monitoring to ensure average speeds remain below 25 mph at all points. In some locations the 20 signs and existing road layout alone can accomplish this but additional calming is usually needed and is mandatory in 20 zones.

    5. 20 Mph Speed Limit and Zone Criteria

  5. 20 limits and zones have a high profile role in not only casualty reduction but also in changing attitudes to speed and the way public space is shared between vehicles and vulnerable road users which could be a key element in encouraging more walking and cycling. Accordingly the presumption should be to allow these measures wherever possible provided funding is available to ensure the following design criteria are met:

    6. 1. Mean speeds must be below 25 mph at all points, achieved either by the existing layout and 20 signs alone or by additional calming measures*.

    2. Speed monitoring must be undertaken to gauge the likely level of calming required to meet Criterion 1.

    3. Speed monitoring must be undertaken once the scheme is in place to ensure Criterion 1 is met.

    4. Funding should be reserved to provide sufficient calming to ensure Criterion 1 is met.

    5. If Criterion 1 is not met after 2 years the scheme should be removed.

    *A minimum level of additional calming is mandatory for 20 mph zones.

  6. In practical terms the priority given to any 20 limit or zone is likely to depend on how it meets the second Local Transport Plan (LTP2) criteria and how it fares against competing demands within each budget area. These factors would probably be assessed by a more detailed criteria / weighting system appropriate to the specific budget and could be amended to reflect emerging LTP2 priorities. The current main budget areas are likely to be:

    • The Casualty Reduction Programme, to help deliver county and national casualty reduction targets;

    • The Better Ways to School Programme, to help deliver our target for every school to have a travel plan by 2010;

    • Integrated Transport Strategy areas, to support the overall package of measures and / or specific schemes (for example the proposed Abingdon Town Centre scheme);

    • The Community Safety Programme, to support public and stakeholder requests where appropriate; and

    • The Area Engineers’ budgets, to provide straightforward 20 limits in response to requests where appropriate.

Financial and Staff Implications

  1. The criteria do not create direct financial or staff implications as they will be used to govern speed limit proposals provided within existing programmes.

    2. RECOMMENDATIONS

  2. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to adopt the criteria governing 20 limits and zones outlined in the report.

RICHARD DIX
Interim Head of Transport

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Geoff Barrell Tel: (01865) 810450

March 2005

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