The FINANCIAL — A headlong rush towards blanket 20mph zones in many UK towns and cities needs to slow down and take into account the views of residents. More than two-thirds of AA members want a say before a 20mph speed limit is imposed along their street, according to Automobile Association Developments Limited.
More than half (55%) also want to give their opinion on the setting of 20mph zones that may affect their travel through their local area.
An AA-Populus survey of 24,351 AA members shows that, if a 20mph speed limit is set along a road, support for speed camera enforcement is evenly split between those who agree (41%) and those who disagree (38%). Targeted speed camera enforcement, when and where a specific problem emerges, receives much greater support (61%).
The AA supports the setting up of 20mph speed limits where residents along those roads want them. The need for local democratic approval, at street level, is clearly affirmed by this AA Populus panel survey," said Edmund King, the AA's president.
"Neighbourhoods face differing challenges from traffic: some may need to slow down their own residents and reduce the risk of accidents, others have a 'rat-running' problem that a 20mph speed limit on its own won’t address. If a blanket 20mph zone sets main roads at the lower speed, the incentive to stick to main routes and not take a short cut along residential streets is lost. That is one of the reasons why, not only do 69% of AA members want a say on lower speed limits along their own streets, but 55% of them want to give an opinion on local zones restricted to 20mph," King added.
Vulnerable locations
The case for lowering speed outside vulnerable locations, such as schools and hospitals, is generally accepted. However, sweeping 20mph restrictions that slow down commuters, business deliveries and services, and the pace of a town or city in general are not. It’s little wonder that the loudest calls for consultation on 20mph zones are in the North West, West Midlands and London – in other words, Manchester and Liverpool, Birmingham and London – all at 57%.
A role for cameras
The AA notes that AA members see a role for speed cameras in helping to make 20mph speed limits meaningful. Those for and against their use in this context are fairly evenly balanced at around 40%. This compares with September’s AA Populus panel survey of 25,064 AA members which found a 79% acceptance of speed cameras in general, according to Automobile Association Developments Limited.
However, a 61% approval of speed cameras where a specific problem emerges on a 20mph road, such as a serious or series of accidents, shows a significant shift of approval towards the general acceptance level. Speed checks, though, by police-approved groups of residents along 20mph roads moves the approval rating back towards the 40% mark.
There is a lot of fear among drivers that, with 20mph being a relatively unfamiliar speed, widespread speed camera use will make them look more at their speedometers than at what is happening on populated streets in front of them.
Speed indicating signs
Use of speed-indicating signs may help to educate and familiarise drivers with the lower speeds, while proven urban road engineering features may also influence behaviour – while deterring rat-running.
Where a specific speed-related threat occurs, more than three out of every five AA members say send in a mobile speed camera until errant drivers get the message and the danger goes away, according to Automobile Association Developments Limited.
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