An introduction to 20mph speed limits

Find out why we're proposing to introduce 20mph speed limits, how we assess and prioritise schemes, what's involved and how they'll be monitored and enforced.

In December 2023 we made it easier for local communities to request 20mph speed limits in their areas. Since then, we've received proposals that cover 79 separate locations in Westmorland and Furness. 

We're progressing these scheme proposals over a three-year period, which will end in 2027. We'll use our Priority Investment Fund to finance the schemes. 

The Locality Boards in the Westmorland and Furness area recently approved 24 community backed schemes to introduce 20mph speed limits. We're currently holding a consultation on these schemes.

A number of proposed schemes have already passed the consultation stage and in various stages of development. Read about the progress of these schemes.

Contents

Why we're proposing to introduce 20mph speed limits

Our aim is to balance drivers' needs with the safety and environment of local residents and other road users. 

20mph speed limits, in the correct places, can: 

  • promote safer roads
  • reduce congestion
  • reduce vehicle pollution and noise
  • enhance the environment for walking, wheeling and cycling
  • help communities to develop and protect their sense of place
  • reduce property damage
  • reduce demand on local services, such as the ambulance service and police
  • reduce the costs associated with collisions

We've provided further details about some of the advantages of travelling at 20mph below.

Safety

Research has demonstrated a strong link between traffic speed and the severity of injury when a collision occurs.

For example, if you're struck by a vehicle travelling at 20mph you have a 90% chance of survival. This reduces to 50% if the vehicle is travelling at 30mph. If a child suddenly steps in front of a car, you’re much less likely to seriously injure or kill them if you keep to a 20mph limit.

Being in a road traffic collision can be deeply traumatic. Driving at 20mph reduces the risk of collisions and their severity when they occur. This reduces trauma for anyone (including drivers and passengers) unfortunate to be involved in a collision.

Pollution

There's little evidence to suggest that 20mph speed limits increase pollution. It's not as straightforward as more driving time equals more pollution. They can reduce pollution, whilst only having a minimal impact on journey times. 

Driving styles, acceleration and braking are all contributory factors to increased emissions. Research has shown that up to 75% of road transport particulate emissions come from tyre and brake wear, not exhausts. Slower speeds encourage a smoother driving style, which reduces the wear on tyres and brakes and decreases emissions. 

Other research has found that lowering speeds from 30mph to 20mph reduced emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions fell by over 37% and nitrogen dioxide emissions reduced by 51%. Driving styles, vehicle sizes and fuel types were found to impact these results. 

Health benefits

Traffic speeds can discourage people from walking, wheeling and cycling. This is because higher speeds increase the risk and severity of collisions. Reduced speeds can help people feel more confident when using their local streets as a pedestrian or cyclist. This increases their physical activity levels and improves health. 

Road congestion

Research shows that slower speeds encourage a smoother driving style, with less stopping and starting. This helps traffic to flow.

Evidence from other 20mph areas show that, over the long term, slower speeds encourage more people to walk and cycle. This reduces the number of vehicles on the road, easing congestion.

Supporting communities

20mph speed limits encourage people to come together to use local spaces, which helps create a stronger sense of community. Calmer roads also lead to more social interactions. By, for example, more children walking to school or older people feeling more confident to travel independently and safely. 

Costs and savings

The Department for Transport has estimated the real costs linked to collisions. These include the costs of lost output, medical and ambulance services, police, insurance, administration and damage to property: 

  • £2.25 million per fatal collision
  • £289,949 for each serious collision
  • £29,127 per slight collision

Speed is often recorded as a contributory factor in collisions. We therefore expect a 20mph speed limit to reduce the number and severity of collisions. This will result in a reduction in the costs involved. 

Criteria for 20mph speed limits

We considered applications eligible for the policy if they met all the following criteria:

  • proposals must be supported by the local parish or town council, or Westmorland and Furness Council members, or both
  • parish and town councils must engage with the local community and stakeholders. They must also demonstrate that there's strong local support for the proposals
  • proposals must be within a built-up environment of a village or town. They have to be located areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix, in a frequent and planned manner. This means an area where a lot of walking, scooting and cycling takes place or is likely to place in the future. Unless there's strong evidence that higher speeds are safe
  • the existing speed limit can be no higher than 40mph
  • the environment must explain and justify a lower speed limit to drivers. We'll consider whether it's appropriate to include main roads and arterial routes carefully

How we prioritise schemes

From the applications we received, we identified 79 eligible locations that met all the criteria for 20mph speed limit schemes. We're now prioritising schemes based on a variety of factors, including: 

  • identified safety issues
  • how far they'll increase safety for vulnerable road users
  • how feasible it'll be for us to deliver the scheme

The Locality Board approved 28 of the locations in April 2024. We're currently running a consultation on 27 proposals in these areas, and other proposals are at various stages of development. 

We’ve set aside £300,000 of funding to deliver 20mph speed limits across Westmorland and Furness. 

Monitoring speed limits 

We'll monitor areas before and after the speed limit is introduced. 

We will not deem a 20mph scheme a failure if the data shows little or no reduction in vehicle speeds. As a Highway Authority, we have a duty to set appropriate speed limit. This is in line with our local transport strategy objectives. It is also in line with wider national policy objectives. We'll gather data to understand if we need further interventions to bring speeds down. It is not to decide if we should reconsider the 20mph speed limit. 

Who'll enforce the speed limits 

The Police enforce 20mph speed limits, where the limit is clearly marked. In this case, by signage regulations. Offenders may be prosecuted. 

Roads excluded from 20mph speed limit areas

Some roads within villages and town centres are privately owned. If this is the case, we will not erect signs or include them in the Traffic Regulation Order needed for us to install them. 

If you believe that we maintain the road your property is on, and it is not privately owned, please contact us. We'll consider this and update the proposals if appropriate. You can contact us by providing us with feedback on the 20mph consultation survey.

Main roads

A 20mph speed limit area is usually defined by a set of residential streets, bounded by main distributor roads. Distributor roads carry large volumes of traffic. They're typically A-roads but this is not always the case. 

These main roads will remain at their existing posted speed limits. However, we might propose to assess the speed limit when we're designing 20mph schemes on smaller roads nearby. We'll decide this on a case-by-case basis. 

The difference between 20mph speed limits and 20mph speed zones

20mph speed limits and 20mph speed zones are very similar. A 20mph speed limit area has signs on the entrance, with regular repeater signs to remind drivers of the reduced speed limit. 20mph zones also have signs at the entrance, but they also require physical traffic calming measures such as road humps and chicanes.

We've chosen speed limits over speed zones, because they're easier to implement and we can cover more locations for a similar cost. This will achieve greater benefits across a wider area. 

Traffic calming measures

We'll take a 'signed only' approach when we design 20mph speed limit areas, including:

  • large 20mph signs at entrance points
  • smaller 20mph repeater signs throughout the area
  • 20mph roundel markings on the road
  • low cost measures to complement the signage, such as other road markings or signage. We'll consider these on a case by case basis and will be subject to available funding

20mph speed limits do not require physical traffic calming measures such as road humps. 

20mph speed limit laws in England and Wales

You may be aware that the law has changed in Wales to reduce the default speed on restricted roads from 30mph to 20mph. This does not apply to England. 

In Westmorland and Furness, every speed limit proposal has been requested by a parish or town council on behalf of their community. We carry out technical assessments and a prioritisation exercise for every proposal we receive.  

If you see a 20mph speed limit, the reason for it might not immediately be apparent. There might, for example, be a school or playground entrance set back from the road.