Efficacy of 20mph limits over short distances

[Dinah Barry]

I live close to a well used, two lane road where the speed limit varies over a distance of two to three miles from 40mph, to 30 mph to 20mph, back to 30 mph and then 20mph again before reaching a junction with a dual carriage way.

The two 20mph limits are outside schools but the road also goes through a housing area where there are a much higher than average numbers of disabled people and two communities of older people. The limit is 30mph at both of the older people’s housing sites.

I live in one of the retirement communities and a new development is being built on the other side of the road. As part of this development a small roundabout is being enlarged and sight-lines ‘improved’ by opening up corners. The safest place we have to cross the road to reach a bus stop is consequently being widened and although an enlarged refuge is to be provided it is still causing anxiety.

We are asking the developer to ask the council to make the two 20mph sections continuous so that this larger junction and the crossing point are included.

I have read information from the manual of street design, the 20mph research study 2018, ROSPA and TfL but can find nothing about roads with changing speed limits. Any further information you can provide to support our case would be helpful.

[Author]

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