It looks like Labour are going ahead with their plan to introduce a 20 mph speed limit in York. A report due to be approved by the Council’s “Cabinet” tomorrow (18/7) says,
“We will start by putting in place a programme to introduce 20mph limits in residential areas and minimise associated street clutter. By the end of 2011/12 we will implement 20mph speed limits in a ‘first phase’ of residential areas. Following this we will roll out 20mph limits across the rest of the city’s residential areas by 2013”. No attempt is made to define a “residential area”.
York already has 20 mph speed limits near schools and at other potential accident black spots. 20 mph zones have been introduced in Fishergate and the Milner Street areas with a much larger South Bank zone also scheduled for implementation this year.
The intention had been to assess the impact that these trials had on accident rates before reviewing other speed limits.
Now it seems that Labour plan to pilot their plan in Bishopthorpe
The decision to press ahead with a city wide speed limit reduction comes at a time when experts like University of London Professor John Wann have said that “too many 20 mph zones can dilute their effectiveness as motorists fail to recognise that they are in a high risk area”. That view is also supported by the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
The cost of introducing a city wide 20 mph limit in York has been put at £1 million. Much of this would be spent on signs although central government have said recently that speed limit markings can be painted on the road surface. The problem with the later option is that such markings wear out very quickly and can be difficult to see in wet and muddy conditions.
York has seen a 50% reduction in serious road accidents over the last few years. That trend could be reversed if limited resources are spent on a 20 mph limit which is widely abused and largely unenforceable. Labour should rethink their plans.