20mph speed limits have bigger crashes than 30mph speed limits
October 16th, 2007 | by admin |With a proposal for 20mph speed limits in the news today, Safe Speed accuses the proposers of ignoring the evidence.
Latest national figures indicate that average accident severity is far higher in 20mph zones than in 30mph zones.
- In 20mph zones in 2006 17% of injury crashes were fatal or serious
In 30mph zones in 2006 13% of injury crashes were fatal or serious [1]
What these figures tell us:
- The authorities are ignoring important road safety evidence by pressing on without explaining the figures.
The simple ‘a lower speed limit lowers crash severity’ is proved false. (Other factors must be considered.)
What these figures DO NOT tell us:
- Changing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph makes crashes worse. (we might, for example, have applied 20mph zones ONLY to exceptionally dangerous places.)
Anything about changes to the numbers of crashes
Paul Smith, founder of SafeSpeed.org.uk, said: “The authorities are ignoring their own evidence. Instead they are working on the basis of belief. No more 20mph zones should be rolled out until the figures are fully explained.”
“The figures destroy the general argument that driving slower means smaller crashes. Obviously the national picture is telling us something completely different. In 20mph zones we’re having worse crashes than in 30mph zones.”
“We’re shifting the balance from responsibility to regulation and it simply does not work. We need more responsibility, not more regulation.”
“Modern road safety policies haven’t proved effective. Neither road deaths nor hospitalisations have fallen as expected – and road safety policy must take the blame.”
[1] Calculated from Table 4, RCGB 2006 DfT national figures.
