Few benefits from 20mph limits, says council

Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire has rejected the blanket introduction of 20mph speed limits on residential streets, with officers saying the lower limits bring few benefits.

“There is little evidence to show that implementing 20mph speed limits reduces speed and accidents,” Elizabeth Twitchett, the council’s operational manager for area working and safety, told the council’s cabinet. 

The ruling Labour Group told the council’s internal policy review that there were higher priorities for spending the highways budget. 

Twitchett added that West Yorkshire Police favoured a “threat and risk approach” to 20mph limits rather than their blanket roll-out. “They also state that there are many other available tactics to use before a 20mph limit should be introduced.”

Kirklees Council officers said 20mph speed limits should not be funded from the mainstream highway budget. “Promoters would need to fund 20mph speed limits,” they said. 

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