20mph limit ‘will not cut pollution or road deaths’

CUTTING speed limits to 20mph would have no impact on road safety or pollution, MSPs have been told.

Every shopping or residential street with a 30mph limit would have this reduced to 20mph under a Bill going through Holyrood.

Researchers, motoring groups and representatives of lorry and taxi drivers yesterday voiced concerns – amid claims casualities could even go up.

They appeared as part of the rural economy connectivity committee’s scrutiny of a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Green MSP Mark Ruskell.

Road safety expert Eric Bridgestock said: ‘The evidence seems to be that casualties go up. Manchester cancelled their 20mph roll-out because casualty reductions in the 20mph zones were less than in the remaining 30mph zones.’

Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM RoadSmart, said: ‘20mph without changing the character of the road doesn’t really change driver behaviour.’

Scottish Taxi Federation chairman Tony Kenmuir said cabbies do not back a blanket change.

Martin Reid, policy director for Scotland at the Road Haulage Association, added: ‘We can’t find any evidence to say there is a massive difference in emissions.’

Mr Ruskell said: ‘Of the 6,500 responses, two-thirds say they support a safer limit.’