Cameras could enforce 20mph urban speed limit
Date: 18 October 2007
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A road safety group is calling for the installation of hundreds of speed cameras to enforce a new 20mph speed limit, which will slow down couriers and other logistics vehicles.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety claims that introducing a 20mph limit (down from the current 30mph) in built-up areas would cut the number of deaths on the road by half.
It would make walking and cycling safer too, the group suggested.
However, such a low speed would hamper courier drivers trying to make deliveries and would make life more difficult for freight transport vehicles too. Anti-speed camera groups note that a 20mph default limit is not appropriate because there are often situations where it is quite simply unnecessary.
"Forcing drivers to travel below an appropriate speed is detrimental to road safety," Nigel Humphries of the Association of British Drivers told Reuters.
His view was backed up by Paul Smith of Safe Speed, who said that educating drivers about safety was a much better alternative.
"We don't need more regulation; we don't need more speed management," he said. "We need better drivers through education, information and improved road safety culture."
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User Comments
This is another case of the press stirring it up over nothing. The proposal is to expand the use of 20mph zones in estates etc. not to replace 30 with 20. It will only cover relatively small heavily built up areas where only the chavs and BMW drivers who think they know better speed anyway.
Posted By: Jamie on 19/10/2007 09:21:22