Doubts voiced over 20mph traffic scheme

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 16:36

FEARS have been raised over plans to create a huge 20mph zone in the Capital, with critics claiming it is diverting money away from more serious accident blackspots.

• SLOW DOWN: The low-speed zone would be city-wide. Picture: IAN GEORGESON

There are also concerns that the pilot scheme to turn 25 miles of city roads into a 20mph zone will be "unenforceable" as police do not have the resources.

The council plans to introduce the trial in Edinburgh were revealed by the Evening News yesterday.

While the move, which would see roads stretching from Blackford Hill in the south to Holyrood Park covered by the new speed limit, has been welcomed by road safety charities, others say it will do little more than divert money away from more problematic 60mph roads.

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "Most drivers in residential areas are going to be local people and 20mph is probably the speed they are doing anyway.

"In Edinburgh the road safety situation is pretty good.

"Most people who are killed in road accidents die on 60mph roads so by spending money on 20mph roads, we worry that they are diverting money from roads where people are having more serious accidents."

City leaders are following in the footsteps of a similar scheme in Portsmouth, which has seen a 15 per cent reduction in accidents resulting in injuries.

Simon Moon, head of transport and street management at Portsmouth City Council, said: "The 20mph scheme is about making our streets more useable for the people who live on them, as well as pedestrians and cyclists."

"It's not safe to drive at more than 20mph on our narrow streets, which often have cars parked on both sides. "

The lower speed limit has also been backed by road safety charity Brake.

A spokeswoman said: "It is absolutely vital that we see more 20mph zones introduced into communities throughout the UK.

"It's common sense that lower speed limits are essential in stopping the six deaths a day that happen on UK roads.

"The slower we drive, the more time we have to react and the less chance we have of hitting someone.

"Brake urges all local authorities to implement 20mph limits in villages, towns and cities throughout the UK, and all drivers to pledge to drive at 20mph outside of homes and schools."

However, Tory transport spokesman, Councillor Allan Jackson, has some reservations about the scheme.

He said: "This has been tried a few years ago when they had the "twenty's plenty" idea and because it's unenforceable it didn't work.

"If this reduces injuries, then great, but is it really going to be enforceable?

"The police don't have the resources to enforce it."