20mph zones 'a waste of money'

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

From the Leicester Mercury

A head teacher has urged the city council to rethink its plans to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on 20mph zones.

Head teacher Chris Hassell said a restricted speed zone installed outside Taylor Road Primary in St Matthew's, Leicester, in 2009 made "no discernable difference" to speeding motorists outside his school as it was not enforced.

Leicester City Council wants to create more 20mph zones in residential areas at a cost of £400,000 over the next four years, to try to cut speeds and make people feel safer.

But Mr Hassell said: "I have been watching traffic travel up and down Taylor Road for the past 15 years and the introduction of a 20mph zone on Taylor Road has made no discernible difference to the speed of traffic. Most drivers completely disregard any speed limit – in fact, many vehicles accelerate all the way down Taylor Road and lorries knock down the traffic island markers on a weekly basis.

"If we are to look at Taylor Road as an example, it is with regret that I have to say it has been a waste of money."

The council plans to install the 20mph zones in 114 roads in six areas of the city in March.

The council’s Transport and Climate Change Scrutiny Commission is set to discuss concerns that too much money was being spent on roads where very few accidents occurred. There were in total 31 minor – and no serious – accidents on the chosen 114 roads between 2008 and 2010. A public consultation showed 84% of residents who responded backed the move, and no formal objections were received. It is not known how many people responded.

Steve Warrington, transport development officer added: "It is difficult when deciding where to dedicate spending, but I think 20mph zones are an important step in traffic calming. Research has shown that a speed reduction of just 1mph can mean a 5% reduction in the number of accidents."

He added that the 20mph zones were just a part of the council's much larger strategy to improve road safety.

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