Too Slow for Modern Mobility

In exactly one month's time—September 17th—we shall have imposed upon us the new default urban 20 mph speed limit. This is almost without exception (see Rhuthun/Ruthin's few exceptions, here).

Part-peeled 20 mph sign at Llanfihangel

I've yet to find any motorists in favour. That's not too surprising, of course. But those without cars don't seem to have a view, either way, other than for traffic in the town centre. Perhaps that's because non-motorists have never been engaged in the debate. Or maybe they feel safe enough.

This advisory sign at Llanfair will need to be removed

I remain unconvinced about this blanket approach. 20 mph is just too slow for modern motorised mobility. 

Those, however, who say that the 20 mph limit will result in increased pollution are probably correct yet at the same time disingenuous given that motorists contribute significantly to greenhouse gases. Rhuthun/Ruthin motorists are likely to be at the extreme end of the scale, given the need to travel. I'd estimate 2,100 cwt of CO₂ over a motorist's lifetime. The additional emissions are immaterial and if a motorist is that concerned they should scale down their gas-guzzler or stop driving altogether.

It will lengthen urban journeys by one third. A journey in ideal conditions at 30 mph from Esso Dyffryn Services (where the 20 mph will kick in after the Aldi exception) to the national speed limit sign after Parc y Castell takes 3m 48s. This at 20 mph will increase to 5m 21s. That additional 1m 23s is next to nothing except for three problems: 

• First, 20 mph appears much slower than it actually is; 

• Secondly, most motorists are currently exceeding 30 mph, anyway, so will travel the above distance quicker than 3m 48s, which means that the additional 1m 23s will be much more; and

• Thirdly, the cumulative effect between say Rhuthun and Y Rhyl will be more significant: subject to 20mph shall be Rhuthun, Llanrhaeadr, the outskirts of Dinbych, Denbigh Green, Trefnant, Llanelwy/St Asaph and, of course, all of Y Rhyl itself. It will probably drive yet more traffic, light and heavy, onto the sub-standard and higher-risk lower Denbigh road to avoid 20 mph at Trefnant, and to by-pass as much of 20 mph Llanelwy as possible. 

On a number of occasions, I've deliberately pottered round Rhuthun at 20 mph. These I considered test journeys, for which I had no specific ultimate purpose (other than to get a feel for 20). It's somewhat relaxing and almost therapeutic, other than the fact that motorists aggressively tailgate. But, if you've got somewhere to go, somewhere to be, then 20 mph is inconvenient at best and it's not relaxing at all.