We're one step closer to a blanket 20 mph zone in residential Rhuthun/Ruthin. This follows the Senedd approval of initial national proposals, yesterday.
Your reaction to this will depend on whether you're more of a pedestrian than a motorist. Indeed, we suspect that like many of us you'll adopt double standards. I know I do. You'll complain about speeds past your front door while not realising or even necessarily registering that you're doing the same in areas away from your home. Harsh though it is, such is the general attitude to speed.
If they tell us anything, traffic management engineers will confirm two things.
First, few crashes involving pedestrians actually occur in residential areas.
And, secondly, motorists find it notoriously difficult to stick to 20 mph. It's likely that the average speed will reduce by between 2 and 3 mph. Given that many already exceed 30 mph by 10 per cent or so to start with, a 20 mph zone will likely result in new average traffic speeds of between 24 and 27 mph—unless there are calming features or a police presence. Even a drop in average speeds such as this has its safety benefits.
Yet, such engineers will also confirm that few crashes there may be, but the difference between 30 and 20 for a pedestrian hit by a car is marked.
So, there is merit in converting 30 zones to 20: it will make pedestrians feel safer, even if this is a matter of perception. And, to everyone's benefit, it will result in a much better walking environment, restoring at least a little of the skewed balance currently in favour of traffic.
But, will anyone stick to the new limits? Those who near enough keep to 30 will probably do their best to do the same at 20 mph (it isn't easy). These wil be "pacers", helping to set the speed of those following.
Then there will be the drifters, who probably have no concept of their speed and stray over the limit but not willfully. And then there are the idiots who will blatantly ignore whatever limit is served up for them. The fact that a number won't comply doesn't mean we shouldn't try, as there are still benefits for those on foot.
It's fair to say that, without enforcement or without mitigating calming measures, we're dubious about a mass conversion to 20 mph. We shouldn't expect a proliferation in so-called "sleeping policemen", as the new limit, if enacted, will be a blanket measure throughout Wales. In theory, it will be a new normal. It needs to become socially unacceptable to speed, like drink driving or smoking in a confined public space. It was once predicted that speeders would, indeed, fall into the category of anti-social behaviour but that has yet to happen. Will it, now?
First, few crashes involving pedestrians actually occur in residential areas.
And, secondly, motorists find it notoriously difficult to stick to 20 mph. It's likely that the average speed will reduce by between 2 and 3 mph. Given that many already exceed 30 mph by 10 per cent or so to start with, a 20 mph zone will likely result in new average traffic speeds of between 24 and 27 mph—unless there are calming features or a police presence. Even a drop in average speeds such as this has its safety benefits.
So, there is merit in converting 30 zones to 20: it will make pedestrians feel safer, even if this is a matter of perception. And, to everyone's benefit, it will result in a much better walking environment, restoring at least a little of the skewed balance currently in favour of traffic.
But, will anyone stick to the new limits? Those who near enough keep to 30 will probably do their best to do the same at 20 mph (it isn't easy). These wil be "pacers", helping to set the speed of those following.
Then there will be the drifters, who probably have no concept of their speed and stray over the limit but not willfully. And then there are the idiots who will blatantly ignore whatever limit is served up for them. The fact that a number won't comply doesn't mean we shouldn't try, as there are still benefits for those on foot.
It's fair to say that, without enforcement or without mitigating calming measures, we're dubious about a mass conversion to 20 mph. We shouldn't expect a proliferation in so-called "sleeping policemen", as the new limit, if enacted, will be a blanket measure throughout Wales. In theory, it will be a new normal. It needs to become socially unacceptable to speed, like drink driving or smoking in a confined public space. It was once predicted that speeders would, indeed, fall into the category of anti-social behaviour but that has yet to happen. Will it, now?
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Traffic