‘Lack of support’ for 20mph speed limit
● Safer Streets Bill would make 20mph default speed limit in built-up areas
Campaigners have hit out at what they say is a lack of support from the Scottish Government for reducing the speed limit in built up areas to 20mph
In a letter sent to national cycling charity S ust rans, transport minister Michael Ma the son claimed drivers may not pay attention to such a law and the decision should be taken by local authorities.
That idea was rejected by campaigners, who urged ministers to back a national change.
Cycling campaigners have criticised the Scottish Government’s lack of support for a bill that would change the default speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph, with the transport secretary claiming drivers may not pay attention to such a law if it was passed.
In a letter seen by The Scotsman and sent to national cycling charitySustr ans, Michael Matheson said decision son 20 mph speed limits were best taken at local authority level.
But that stance was rejected by environmentalists, who said S NP ministers should back the Safer Streets Bill introduced by Greens MSP Mark Ruskell if they are serious about encouraging more Scots to walk or cycle instead of driving.
Last month Nicola Sturgeon declared “a climate emergency” and later scrapped a proposed tax cut on flights to and from Scotland in a display of how seriously her government was taking the issue of reducing carbon emissions.
Backers of the Safer Streets law claim it would help fix what they describe as an incomplete patch work of 20mph zones across Scotland. They claim the existing process for creating such zones in urban areas remains costly and time-consuming for councils already under financial pressure.
Under the legislation, local authorities would be allowed to retain some streets with higher speed limits in consultation with communities, but these would be the exception rather than the rule.
A study by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health found a 20mph speed limit in built-up areas would save the public up to £40 million a year.
Last week the Welsh government confirmed it would introduce similar legislation, declaring that 20mph should be the default speed limit for residential areas.
However, Mr Matheson said in the letter that speed limits should not be set in isolation.
“Changing a speed limit does not guarantee that actual vehicle speeds will change ,” the minister wrote.
“The guidance on setting all speed limits is clear that they should be reasonable and consistent if they are to be credible to road users and obeyed as a result.”
He continued: “We are clear that 20mph speed limits are a good idea when implemented in the right environment because they have the real potential to encourage more active travel and increase people’s perceptions of‘ feeling safe’, but further consideration needs to be given to the impact and consequences of a nationwide 20mph limit, including an assessment of Scotland’ s road network, before we can fully support this bill.”
Professor Chris Oliver, a retired or th op aedictr auma surgeon and pro - cycling campaigner, said there was significant concern among the cycling community at the lack of support from the Scottish Government for the Safer Streets Bill. “It’s ironic that the Scottish Government have both declared a climate emergency and scrapped the reduction of air travel levy, but are wavering on implementing the 20mph bill,” he said.
“We know it’ s well es tablished that 20mph makes cities much more liveable, enable more active travel to occur in 20mph areas [walking and cycling ], more equality of access to transport, better air quality, better health and significantly fewer casualties.
“I know as a retired Edin - burgh or th op aedictr auma surgeon that its difficult to argue with reduction of casualties when 20 mph is reduced.”
The setting of a speed limit is, to a large extent, about finding the right balance between safety and the smooth flow of traffic.
If safety is taken to a ridiculous degree – for example, by reinstating the Locomotive Acts of the 1860s, which imposed speed limits of 4mph in the countryside (2mph in cities) and required someone to walk in front of vehicles with a red flag – then the fatal accident rate could probably be reduced to zero.
However, most reasonable people accept that life cannot be entirely risk-free and motor vehicles should be able to travel considerably faster than walking pace. Otherwise, what’s the point?
So the current debate over whether the normal urban speed limit should be 20mph or 30mph is a matter of degree, rather than principle. Where should the compromise between safety and speed be made?
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which supports 20mph, points to research saying that 45 per cent of pedestrians killed in accidents with cars and vans died when the impact speed was less than 30mph, while just 5 per cent of deaths occurred below 20mph.
However, other research found that an astonishing 81 per cent of
car drivers break the speed limit on 20mph roads, compared to 53 per cent on 30mph roads, which gives a fairly good indication of what most motorists think about the lower limit. As we report today, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said in a letter to the charity Sustrans: “Changing a speed limit does not guarantee that actual vehicle speeds will change. The guidance on setting all speed limits is clear that they should be reasonable and consistent if they are to be credible to road users and obeyed as a result.”
If a law is introduced, but not obeyed by a large number of people, then it risks being held in general contempt and simply ignored. The laws requiring the wearing of seatbelts and banning smoking in pubs were initially controversial, but were successful because they quickly became accepted as people realised they were actually beneficial.
The signs from places such as Edinburgh where 20mph limits have been introduced are that there is considerable resistance to the idea. Police Scotland has also pointed out that enforcing this limit cannot be a priority for the force.
A 20mph speed limit on some city streets may be appropriate, but it is clear the public still needs to be convinced.