City curb which nearly all motorists ignore

MOST drivers in Scotland’s biggest city are ignoring a new 20mph speed limit. A Scottish Mail on Sunday investigation found that although much of Glasgow city centre has clear 20mph signs, the majority of motorists do not slow down. Using an officially-approved radar speed gun, pictured, we clocked a steady stream of cars, buses, black cabs and private hire taxis disregarding the new limit.

Motoring campaigners said our findings cast doubt on a speed limit which is neither obeyed nor enforced.

In 2016, Glasgow City Council introduced a mandatory 20mph speed limit on roads throughout the city centre. But at several key locations on Friday we found 76 per cent of all drivers and 88 per cent of taxis and vans were travelling above the limit.

A third of buses we scanned were also driving above 20mph.

A spokesman for the Alliance of British Drivers campaign group said 20mph speed zones were ‘a total mistake’, adding: ‘Very few people obey these speeding laws and no one takes them seriously. It brings all other speed limits into disrepute. These speed limits can often make people think roads are safe and lull them into a false sense of security.’

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: ‘It is well documented that the speed of vehicles can be a contributory factor in road accidents.’

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘The 20mph speed limit is intended to be largely self-enforcing, with motorists reducing their speed.’