{"id":2048552,"date":"2026-07-17T14:32:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2048552"},"modified":"2026-07-17T14:32:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:32:11","slug":"20mph-limit-for-english-towns-is-urgent-say-experts-to-transport-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2048552","title":{"rendered":"20mph limit for English towns is \u2018urgent,\u2019 say experts to Transport Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"articleItem\">\n<p>    {&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/schema.org&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Article&#8221;,&#8221;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/070-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;mainEntityOfPage&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;WebPage&#8221;,&#8221;@id&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/car-news\/motoring-issues\/20mph-speed-limit-for-england\/&#8221;},&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/car-news\/motoring-issues\/20mph-speed-limit-for-england\/&#8221;,&#8221;author&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Person&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Luke Wilkinson&#8221;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;Luke Wilkinson is Deputy Editor of our sister site, Parkers. However, he also writes news, reviews and features for CAR magazine. Heu2019s worked as a car journalist for five years now, having started his career as a Staff Writer at Auto Express in November 2018. He joined Bauer Media in February 2022.nHe was excited to work as a car journalist before heu2019d even finished his studies. As a university student, heu2019d visit his local car dealerships in his spare time (posing as a customer), and test drive cars. He would then write reviews on those cars for his own website to build up a portfolio to show to his future employer.nLukeu2019s efforts soon landed him an internship with the Daily Recordu2019s motoring supplement, Road Record. He worked for two weeks at the publication, gathering vital online and print magazine skills that would stand him in good stead for his entrance into the working world.nHighlights of his career so far include driving a V8 powered (and ULEZ exempt!) Range Rover Classic down Saville Row, redlining the David Brown Automotive Mini Remasteredu00A0and tearing down Millbrook Proving Groundu2019s mile straight at 170mph in au00A0McLaren 720S.nWhen he isnu2019t shackled to his desk, Luke spends his time restoring hisu00A0Classic Mini. Itu2019s a 1993 Rover Mini Sprite thatu2019s heu2019s owned since he was 15. Itu2019s already undergoing its second bout of rust repair and is awaiting an entire new floor pan, a fresh front end and a rebuilt engine.nYou can follow Luke on his Twitter,u00A0Instagramu00A0andu00A0LinkedInu00A0pages. Alternatively, you can find a list of his latest articles at the bottom of this page.&#8221;,&#8221;image&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;ImageObject&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/14254\/lukewilkinson1.jpeg&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;Luke Wilkinson&#8221;},&#8221;sameAs&#8221;:[&#8220;https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/luke-wilkinson-08a155112\/&#8221;,&#8221;https:\/\/x.com\/LT_Wilkinson&#8221;,&#8221;https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lt_wilkinson\/&#8221;],&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/luke-wilkinson\/&#8221;,&#8221;alumniOf&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;EducationalOrganization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;University of Glasgow&#8221;},&#8221;jobTitle&#8221;:&#8221;Deputy Editor&#8221;,&#8221;knowsAbout&#8221;:&#8221;Automotive,Motoring,Road testing,Car news&#8221;,&#8221;worksFor&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Parkers&#8221;}},&#8221;dateModified&#8221;:&#8221;2026-07-17T15:32:11+01:00&#8243;,&#8221;datePublished&#8221;:&#8221;2026-07-17T15:32:11+01:00&#8243;,&#8221;headline&#8221;:&#8221;20mph limit for English towns is u2018urgent,u2019 say experts to Transport Committee&#8221;,&#8221;publisher&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Bauer Media&#8221;,&#8221;brand&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Car Magazine&#8221;},&#8221;logo&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;ImageObject&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/logos\/car.200&#215;88.png&#8221;}}}<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"column xlarge-10 xlarge-push-2\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"column\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t20mph limit for English towns is \u2018urgent,\u2019 say experts to Transport Committee<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"column\">\n<div class=\"hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"compact-author-info\">\n\tBy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/luke-wilkinson\/\">Luke Wilkinson<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"dates\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dates__date\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPublished: Today 15:32<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source__inline\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source__line-break\"><\/div>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=carmagazine.co.uk\" class=\"google-preferred-source-link preferred-source__link preferred-source__link--left\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preferred-source__border\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source__inner\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source__google-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/assets\/images\/icons\/google-logo-46x46.png\" alt=\"Follow Car on Google\" data-src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/assets\/images\/icons\/google-logo-46x46.png\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source__google-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tFollow <strong>Car<\/strong> on Google\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source__tooltip\">\n\t\t\t\tAdd Car as a preferred source on Google to see more of our latest content\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"cms-content\">\n<div class=\"in-page-gallery full-width thumbnails-bullets\">\n<ul class=\"carousel\" data-orbit=\"true\" data-options=\"bullets: true; resume_on_mouseout: false; timer: false; variable_height: true; slide_number: false\">\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/070-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road sign\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/070-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/070-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/070-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road sign<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: London traffic\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: London traffic<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road roundel\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road roundel<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road sign in Edinburgh\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road sign in Edinburgh<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: London traffic, busses and taxis\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: London traffic, busses and taxis<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: car exhaust\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: car exhaust<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/1056x594\/transparent.png\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: Welsh 20mph road sign\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x270\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x405\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1056x594\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg, (large)]\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption orbit-caption\">\n<div>20mph speed limit proposal for England: Welsh 20mph road sign<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"articleContent\">\n<div class=\"bold-links\">\n<p><strong>\u25ba<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>Panel presents evidence in favour of lower 20mph limits<br \/><\/strong><strong>\u25ba<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>It states change could reduce fatalities and injuries by 10\u201315%<br \/><\/strong><strong>\u25ba<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>Forms part of government\u2019s wider road safety strategy rethink<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We hope you\u2019re not in a rush. The 20mph speed limit could soon be coming to more English towns and cities. The Transport Committee has heard evidence from a panel of four industry experts who suggested the lower limit would reduce the number of people killed or serious injured (KSIs) by between 10 and 15% percent.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s important, because the government\u2019s proposed new road safety strategy (in which this meeting played an important role) aims to reduce that KSI figure by 65% by 2035. It\u2019s also laid out an ambition for a 70% reduction in the number children killed or seriously injured on the road, for which the 20mph limit will have the biggest impact.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road roundel\" class=\"wp-image-268283\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x0\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1040x0\/072-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (large)]\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject show-for-medium-up hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The panel included Adrian Barendt, director of the campaign group 20\u2019s Plenty for Us; Phil Jones, chairman of the transport planning company PJA (who oversaw the 20mph roll-out in Wales); Lilli Matson, chief safety, health and environment officer for Transport for London and pre-critical care doctor Rob T\u00f6r\u00f6k. A fifth panel member from the Road Haulage Association was also invited to present evidence, but they withdrew.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the experts said<\/h2>\n<p>All four panel members made it abundantly clear that they were in full support of a blanket 20mph limit across England. Matson said: \u2018reducing speed is at the heart of making roads safer. It\u2019s the first and most important systemic change that the government and local governments can make.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>She highlighted her experience in the capital. When Central London adopted the 20mph limit in 2020, she said the change reduced the number of KSIs by around 24%. She also flagged a secondary benefit in that the lower limit \u2018changed the feel of those roads\u2019 by \u2018making them places where people do want to live, walk, cycle, play.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Exactly why she\u2019s comfortable allowing children to play in the road is beyond us, but we\u2019ll endeavour to get a response from her office.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: London traffic, busses and taxis\" class=\"wp-image-268285\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x0\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1040x0\/074-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (large)]\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject show-for-medium-up hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>T\u00f6r\u00f6k echoed her comments, saying: \u201820mph limits nationally set or nationally prioritised \u2013 urgently \u2013 would save countless numbers of people from injury and harm and cost.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Barendt was most critical of the government\u2019s proposed road safety strategy as, while it <em>has<\/em> laid out a hierarchy of road users with pedestrians at the top and cars at the bottom, it hasn\u2019t prescribed an enforceable lower speed limit to protect the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p>He said: \u2018Because there\u2019s no commitment to a 20mph speed limit on residential streets \u2013 and since around 50% of KSIs occur on 30mph roads \u2013 without reducing that speed limit down to 20, you simply can\u2019t achieve the target of 65%.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: London traffic\" class=\"wp-image-268282\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x0\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1040x0\/071-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (large)]\"><\/figure>\n<p>He also stressed that the 20mph limit is \u2018by far and away the biggest single measure\u2019 the government could take to cut the number of deaths on its roads. He suggested the change would account for between 10 and 15 percent of its target.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In addition, Barendt mused the lower limit would encourage all road users to \u2018look out for each other more,\u2019 as the lower speeds give drivers more cognitive capacity to watch out for and react to hazards. Such as unattended children wandering out into the road.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject show-for-medium-up hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 20mph limit in action: Wales<\/h2>\n<p>Wales is probably the most infamous application of the 20mph limit \u2013 and it\u2019s a good case study for this discussion because it was introduced in the same fashion this consultation\u2019s panel of experts is suggesting would be suitable England.<\/p>\n<p>The changeover happened on 17 September 2023. The infrastructure updates, which included new 20mph signs and road markings, cost the taxpayer over \u00a334 million. What\u2019s more, a Welsh government assessment also determined that the lower limit would cost the nation\u2019s economy \u00a34.54 billion over the following 30 years.<\/p>\n<p>However, Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford justified the speed adjustment by stating it would save the NHS \u00a392 million per year in A&amp;E visits from traffic accidents.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: Welsh 20mph road sign\" class=\"wp-image-268287\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x0\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1040x0\/076-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (large)]\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The public response to the 20mph limit was, shall we say\u2026 lively? A Welsh petition challenging 20mph limits quickly attracted more than 400,000 signatures \u2013 and the outcry was so severe that the Welsh government was forced to revert some of its new 20mph roads back to their original 30mph limit in 2024. People don\u2019t seem to want this change.<\/p>\n<p>When quizzed about the public resistance to 20mph limits, Barendt said: \u2018It\u2019s change management. We\u2019ve got used to 30mph as the limit. That\u2019s been that\u2019s been with us for 100 years or so. Whenever you change, people are people are going to get uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject show-for-medium-up hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s just getting used to it. We saw the petition in Wales at the point of the change. Over 400,000 people signed this. There was an identical petition two years later and it attracted 2,378 signatures. I can\u2019t do that maths in my head, but it\u2019s a tiny number of signatures.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: 20mph road sign in Edinburgh\" class=\"wp-image-268284\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x0\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1040x0\/073-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (large)]\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Dr. T\u00f6r\u00f6k added to Barendt\u2019s point, saying: \u2018The fact that there are groups that are <em>loudly<\/em> opposing or resistant to this change doesn\u2019t mean that the majority aren\u2019t in support. You know, the surveys that the RAC and similar bodies do tell us that people <em>do want <\/em>reductions in speed limits and safer roads.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll let the comments section be the judge of that. Please, let us know your thoughts below. We\u2019re genuinely curious to gauge your interest.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What this means for you<\/h2>\n<p>As of today, nothing will change. The Transport Committee is still only <em>talking<\/em> about the adoption of 20mph limits \u2013 and it doesn\u2019t have the legislative brawn to push new laws through parliament. So, 20mph limits in England won\u2019t appear overnight.<\/p>\n<p>However, the government\u2019s new road safety strategy will be informed by the findings of panel discussions such as this one. So, there\u2019s a change \u2013 especially given the strength of the evidence provided by these experts \u2013 that the limit could be adjusted down. We\u2019ll have to wait and see.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject show-for-medium-up hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAR magazine\u2019s opinion<\/h2>\n<p>We completely understand the need to improve road safety, especially in the areas where children and families are most likely to be. However, the pelt-every-town-with-buckshot approach to 20mph limits probably isn\u2019t the way to go. It\u2019s an overly simplified solution to a fiendishly complicated problem.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The panel in this discussion was completely fixated on the deaths and injuries caused by traffic collisions, but they failed to acknowledge those caused by emissions.<\/p>\n<p>Our urban speed limits have been almost universally set at 30mph since 1934. Because of that, manufacturers have designed the fuelling and gearing of pretty much every petrol and diesel car since then to be efficient at that speed. However, to comfortably maintain 20mph, you need to be in a lower gear than you would be at 30mph \u2013 and that creates more pollution. Your engine\u2019s turning more revs, which belches more exhaust fumes into the air.<\/p>\n<p>The government states there are between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year caused by pollution. That cohort is as important (if not more so, given the far greater number of fatalities) than the 1600 deaths and 29,000 serious injuries caused by road traffic accidents in 30mph urban areas, as quoted by Dr. T\u00f6r\u00f6k in this hearing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down\" alt=\"20mph speed limit proposal for England: car exhaust\" class=\"wp-image-268286\" data-interchange=\"[https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/480x0\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (default)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/720x0\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (medium)], [https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/1040x0\/075-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg?scale=down, (large)]\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject hide-for-medium-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mpu-inject show-for-medium-up hide-for-xlarge-up\">\n<div class=\"mpu-ad advert\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Yes, we know the level of pollution in our cities will naturally decrease as more drivers adopt electric cars. But petrol and diesel cars aren\u2019t going anywhere any time soon. They\u2019ll still be rolling around on our roads long after the ICE ban comes into force in 2035.<\/p>\n<p>Team the 20mph limit with stricter ULEZ regulations in our most crowded cities, and all we\u2019ll effectively be doing is moving chunks of our pollution out of our densely inhabited regions and into our smaller rural towns. Which doesn\u2019t seem all that sensible.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not saying the 20mph limit is a bad idea. In fact, we support its introduction around schools. But we think it needs to be applied carefully and sensibly, with a watchful eye on how it\u2019ll effect emissions and a package of education to instruct the most vulnerable road users how to interact with motorists in our cities.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s see how it plays out.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<aside class=\"about-author\">\n<h2 class=\"about-author-heading\">About the author<\/h2>\n<div class=\"about-author-inner\">\n<div class=\"main-author-summary-container\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"main-author-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/luke-wilkinson\/\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/14254\/120x120\/lukewilkinson1.jpeg?quality=90)\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"main-author-name-container\">\n<div class=\"main-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/luke-wilkinson\/\">Luke Wilkinson<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"main-author-job-title\">Deputy Editor<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"main-author-byline\">Luke is the Deputy Editor of our sister site Parkers, but he spends plenty of time writing news, reviews and features for CAR. He&#8217;s been a motoring journalist since 2018, learning his craft on the Auto Express news desk before joining the Parkers\/CAR team in 2022. When he isn&#8217;t yoked to his laptop, he&#8217;s tearing his hair out over his classic Mini restoration project or pinballing around the country attending heavy metal gigs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"column show-for-xlarge-up xlarge-2 xlarge-pull-10\">\n<figure class=\"author-info clearfix\">\n<p>\t\t\t<a class=\"author-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/luke-wilkinson\/\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/14254\/85x85\/lukewilkinson1.jpeg?quality=90)\"><\/a><figcaption>\n<p class=\"author-name\">\n\t\t\tBy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/luke-wilkinson\/\">Luke Wilkinson<\/a>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p class=\"author-quote\">Deputy Editor of Parkers. Unhealthy obsession with classic Minis and old Alfas. 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data-elem=\"close\"><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>{&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/schema.org&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Article&#8221;,&#8221;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/268279\/070-20mph-speed-limit-proposal-for-england.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;mainEntityOfPage&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;WebPage&#8221;,&#8221;@id&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/car-news\/motoring-issues\/20mph-speed-limit-for-england\/&#8221;},&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/car-news\/motoring-issues\/20mph-speed-limit-for-england\/&#8221;,&#8221;author&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Person&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Luke Wilkinson&#8221;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;Luke Wilkinson is Deputy Editor of our sister site, Parkers. However, he also writes news, reviews and features for CAR magazine. Heu2019s worked as a car journalist for five years now, having started his career as a Staff Writer at Auto Express in November 2018. He joined Bauer Media in February 2022.nHe was excited [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[239,226],"class_list":["post-2048552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-carmagazine-co-uk","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2048552"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048552\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2048552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2048552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2048552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}