Measures to
reduce time-consuming and costly bureaucracy for councils wanting
to use 20 mph schemes were announced today by Regional and Local
Transport Minister Norman Baker.
Today's changes - the first to be announced as part of
the Traffic Signs Policy Review - will mean that councils can use
signs painted on roads as an alternative to expensive upright
signs, cutting street clutter as well as costs.
In addition, the Government will reduce the need for councils to
use speed humps in 20 mph zones and make it cheaper and easier for
councils to put in place variable speed limits outside schools
when local residents want these schemes.
Norman Baker said:
"I want to end the era of top-down government by
providing a radical devolution of power to local authorities and communities.
"If councils and local communities want to put in place
20 mph schemes on residential roads or use common-sense measures
such as variable speed limits outside schools, then they should be
able to do so without spending time and money satisfying
unnecessary Whitehall diktats.
"These changes will reduce costs for councils wanting to
use 20 mph schemes, allowing them to act faster in response to the
needs of their local residents while still ensuring that drivers
know what speed they should drive at."
The changes include:
Expanding the list of specified traffic calming measures
allowable in 20 mph zones to include repeater signs and
mini-roundabouts. This would allow zones to be introduced with
fewer road humps or chicanes where appropriate;
Allowing local authorities to use speed limit symbols painted on
roads more often as repeater signs in 20 mph zones and limits.
Upright signs will still be required to indicate the start and end
of 20 mph schemes.
Allowing local authorities to place signs at the entry and exit
of variable speed limits - e.g. outside schools - on only one side
of the road rather than on both sides of the road as is currently
the case;
Allowing the use of either flashing warning lights or specified
flashing lights with a static sign at the entry to variable speed
limits which are cheaper for councils to buy;
Allowing the use of a sign design for advisory 20 mph limits
using flashing school warning lights.
Councils will now be able to request council-wide authorisations
for these measures to be used in 20 mph schemes on residential
roads where cost-benefit analysis has shown that such schemes
would be worthwhile. This will mean that councils can apply these
measures without getting approval from Government in each case.
It remains the decision of local councils to decide whether or
not to use 20 mph schemes following robust cost-benefit analysis
of any such proposals.
The Traffic Signs Policy Review is due to publish its final
report later this summer.
In addition, the Department for Transport plans to revise the
guidance on speed limits with the aim of increasing flexibility
for local authorities. The Department will provide an economic
tool to help them to assess the full costs and benefits of any
proposed schemes so that they can use measures which are both
appropriate and good value for money.
Notes to Editors
1. Local authorities are able to use their power to introduce 20
mph speed schemes in (a) major streets where business on foot is
more important than slowing down road traffic and (b) lesser
residential roads in cities, towns and villages, particularly
where this would be reasonable for the road environment, there is
community support and streets are being used by pedestrians and
cyclists. Evidence suggests that in residential streets, and in
town centres where there is likely to be a conflict between
vehicles and pedestrians, carefully implemented 20 mph zones can
contribute to an improvement in road safety. 2. The strategic road
safety framework, published on 11th May 2011, announced plans to
revise and reissue the DfT guidance on speed limits in urban areas
with the aim of increasing flexibility for local authorities.3. It
also indicated that the DfT will provide a toolkit to help local
authorities assess the full costs and benefits of proposed
schemes. This should help them make robustly defensible decisions
about speed limits. Press Enquiries: 020 7944 3066Out of Hours:
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Contacts:
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Phone: DfT Press Office 020 7944 3066
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