Council’s scheme for more 20mph speed limits achieves impressive results

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s four-year programme to increase the number of 20mph speed limits on residential roads and outside schools is now complete and an analysis of the first three years shows impressive results to make communities safer.

An analysis of all 125 schemes delivered during the first three years of the project showed a 43 per cent reduction in vehicle collisions, a 14 per cent reduction in collisions where someone is killed or seriously injured and a 47 per cent reduction in collisions causing slight injuries.

An overall reduction in speed of 0.6mph has been calculated.  The evaluation is consistent with the Department for Transport (DfT) study that was published in 2018 with a small reduction in average vehicle speed and fewer vehicles travelling above both 25mph and 30mph than previously.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “In January 2016, the Council agreed to introduce 20mph speed limits on suitable residential roads and around schools to deliver significant benefits including a reduction in road traffic collisions and to encourage more people to walk and cycle.

“We have now implemented all the planned schemes in our four-year programme.  We have undertaken a detailed evaluation of the 20mph schemes delivered so far and the results show they are making a difference in our communities.”

An analysis of the final year’s schemes will take place next year.