Blanket 20mph limit plan for city

[dutchman]

A 20mph speed limit for the whole of Coventry is being considered by councillors to improve road safety.



A task force has recommended the council initially focuses on roads near schools and accident hotspots.

The area within Coventry's ring road was made a 20mph zone in 2012, when traffic-calming measures such as widened pavements and narrowed carriageways were brought in.

But critics have said the plans would not make roads safer.

Rachel Lancaster, cabinet member for public services, said the Labour-controlled council was responding to petitions it had received over road safety concerns.

Measures taken to slow traffic in the city centre had "drastically reduced the amount of accidents... but also made the traffic more free flowing," she said.

"It's about looking at how people use the roads, making them more aware and more considerate when they're driving.

"Money is an issue, but if it goes towards making the city a safer and more pleasant place to drive... it has got to be a good thing," she said.

Nigel Humphries, a spokesman for the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD), said the plans would not make people safer, as blanket speed limits caused drivers to speed up on some other ections of road.

"Speed limits should be set according to the merits of each individual road," he said.

The ABD is in favour of "timed 20mph limits" for times of day when children are arriving and leaving school.

But James Avery, from the "20's Plenty Campaign", said traffic should always be restricted to 20mph in residential areas.

"Coventry would just be following in the footsteps of numerous other cities around the UK from Bristol to York... that have taken the measure that provides numerous other benefits as well as just safety."

Mr Avery said each road should be considered on its merits, but major traffic thoroughfares including the A45 and A46 would not be affected.

The task force recommendations will be sent to the council's scrutiny board on Wednesday.

[dutchman]

Council chiefs have backed a plan to make Coventry a 20mph hour city.



The move will see lower speed limits across the whole city with accident blackspots and roads near schools made a priority.

The blanket 20mph speed limit is being considered following pleas from local people for action to tackle safety on the city’s roads.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to a series of recommendations “for the roll out of 20mph restrictions across the city”.

Many A-roads are likely to be exempt.

People will now be asked for their views after the cabinet member for public services meeting today.

A report conducted by Public Services, Energy and Environment Scrutiny Board had suggested that councillors should “commit to the aspiration that Coventry becomes a 20mph limit and develop a clear policy framework to promote the consistent implementation of 20mph zones and limits across the city”.

The plan will take several years to be put into action, but a report will be made within four months outlining details and a proposed implementation plan.

In the meantime, council officers will work on a widespread consultation that will give people the opportunity to give their feedback on the scheme.

Coventry already has 250 roads with a speed limit of 20mph.

The city centre was made a 20mph zone in 2012.

Under the new proposal, councillors would start by creating more 20mph zones around schools and accident hotspots.

In the past, the Cabinet Member for Public Services has considered petitions for lower speed limits on a case by case basis.

A special Task and Finish group, comprised of five local councillors, came to the conclusion that a more consistent policy for 20mph roads “would reduce the potential for inconsistencies and make the position much clearer for road users”.

But the special group said that some roads - particularly A and B roads and local distributor routes - would be exempt from the plans.

According to the report, the advantages of the scheme would be to reduce accidents, air pollution, health and noise.

Councillors believe that a lower speed limit across the city would encourage more residents to cycle or walk.

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a 20mph speed limit where a student was knocked over and killed in Coventry last month.

There are also calls for a pedestrian crossing on Lynchgate Road, Cannon Park after the death of 23-year-old University of Warwick student Maggie Cheung.

The Task and Finish group examined 20mph limits in other towns and cities across the UK.

Liverpool has already started a city-wide programme to implement 20mph limits on all roads except A and B roads.

In Portsmouth, councillors measured a 22 per cent decrease in accidents where new 20mph zones were put in place.

[dutchman]

Drive to make Coventry 20mph city continues despite evidence lowering speed limits is ineffective

Coventry council is pressing ahead with its drive to impose a blanket 20mph speed limit on almost all residential roads in the city despite evidence the schemes have little affect.

The council has been pursuing the aim to make Coventry a ‘20mph city’ since 2014 - something which will come at an estimated cost of £10,000 per “zone”. Areas to be hit with the speed restrictions will not include main arterial routes or A roads.

Consultation is currently underway over the latest four areas to be targeted by the scheme - the Ringwood Highway area; Purcell Road and Sullivan Road zone; the Rotherham Road area; and the Scots Lane zone.

Residents in the area have been sent information packs asking them to have their say on the scheme until July 27. But motorists who do not live on the affected streets have not been directly invited to offer feedback as part of the consultation process.

The council-published ‘Street News’ letter sent to all homes in affected areas insists that “a reduction in the speed limit has been linked with a reduction in road traffic collisions” and that “other cities in the UK where 20mph speed limits have been installed provide evidence that 20mph speed limits are effective.”

[rebbonk]

despite evidence [it] is ineffective

You don't expect our council to let a little thing like facts get in the way of their stupidity do you?

[Melisandre]

Its a contagious disease thats spreading Rebbonk from all mps to councilors

[rebbonk]

I'm beginning to think that anyone standing for public office must have a demonstrable IQ of above 100.

That might at least clear a few of our Councillors out.

[Melisandre]

I fully agree there Rebbonk some thing I have believed in most of my life and recently all mps too.

[rebbonk]

Sir Michael Edwards did it at Austin Rover; he got rid of a lot of dross.

[Melisandre]

They do it in other companies as well Rebbonk some even have a hand writing expert analyst to tell what kind of a person you are.

[rebbonk]

some even have a hand writing expert analyst to tell what kind of a person you are.

Good job I've never had that done. I've yet to meet anyone who can actually read my handwriting.