20mph limit here to stay in five locations
But signs only bring minimal speed cut
The permanent introduction of full-time mandatory 20mph speed limits has been approved at five Perth and Kinross locations.
Following successful trials councillors were asked to permanently approve the lower speed limits at a meeting last week.
But councillors were told the introduction of new 20mph regulatory signs alone resulted in “minimal speed reductions” at each trial site.
The update and report on the trial was presented to PKC’s environment and infrastructure committee meeting on Wednesday, October 27.
Councillors approved the permanent introduction of 20mph speed limits in Aberfeldy, Dalginross in Comrie, Errol, Kinnesswood and at Rattray Primary School.
These five trial sites represented five different road environments: an entire town, a residential area, a rural village, a village straddling an A road and a school area.
The report said the installation of signs alone resulted in “minimal” speed reduction with average speeds dropping by as little as one mph.
Additional traffic calming measures were trialled at the sites such as vehicle-activated signs, speed cushions and speed enforcement by Police Scotland.
The trial found while vehicleactivated sites were “enthusiastically received by local communities” they
“resulted in minor speed reductions of between two and five mph.”
PKC’s traffic and network and project officer Daryl McKeown told the committee vehicle-activated signs had less impact at night. PKC’s trial found drivers were less likely to slow down when they did not have another driver behind them to see they were exceeding the speed limit. The installation of speed cushions was found to have the “most significant long-term impact on vehicle speeds” reducing speeds by 10mph at some sites. Kinross-shire Conservative councillor Mike Barnacle said he was “not keen” on speed cushions and referred to complaints in the trial site in his constituency about them.
Mr McKeown said they did not suit sites where there was a high percentage of commercial traffic and properties close to the road due to noise and vibrations. Easily removed bolt-down speed cushions were removed from a site in the centre of the Kinross-shire village of Kinnesswood because of this.
PKC’s traffic and network and project officer said the presence of parked cars was one of the most effective traffic-calming measures.
The report said speed enforcement by the police was the “most effective short-term form of traffic calming” but “vehicle speeds returned to pre-enforcement levels once the police officers left the site.”
As well as the five 20mph speed limit trials, during the pandemic 20mph speed limits were introduced in Perth and Kinross town centres where there were more pedestrians and in rural villages with no footways as part of Spaces for People.
Liberal Democrat Kinross- shire councillor Willie Robertson said these temporary speed limits had been “warmly welcomed.” He asked if there were any circumstances in which they could be removed and replaced with a 30mph or 40mph limit.
Mr McKeown said while they could be removed it was “unlikely.” He added it may be more appropriate to reintroduce 30mph limits on straight, wide stretches with good visibility and fewer houses. But he said this would only be done in consultation with local councillors and residents.
The report was unanimously approved.