Latest news with #speedlimits
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Highways warn of 'tsunami' of 20mph requests.
Bids to reduce speed limits in towns and villages across Gloucestershire could overwhelm council officers, a meeting has Spivey, the leader of Gloucestershire County Council, pledged to bring in the speed zones to improve "road safety" and make residents feel more "comfortable". But at a recent meeting, the council's economy and environment chief Colin Chick said he feared the idea would lead to a "tsunami of requests"."We are completely overwhelmed at the moment," Mr Chick told the meeting, adding detail on the complication of getting a speed limit changed. "The difficulty is going to be dealing with it. And having the resources available while continuing to do our everyday work," Mr Chick added."We are absolutely struggling to keep our heads above water."To then have this, I think it will be a tsunami of requests coming in."Each one will require a site visit and we'll have to look at the accident data. No small job, those two alone."Every single one will require a traffic order to be made."One of the areas under proposal for a 20mph zone is the A4135 in Dursley between Cedar Drive and Henlow resident Mike Softley, 72, said it wasn't needed as "people don't have time to get to 30mph" driving through Dursley. Green Party Councillor Dr Richard Dean, representing Dursley, said he is a "big supporter of the 20mph speed reductions".He said there had been 12 road incidents in Dursley since 2020 - five of them serious - but urged the council to include the area around Rednock School. "There are these hidden effects of traffic on mental health including sleeplessness, anxiety and depression which leads into physical illnesses, this should be taken into account when thinking about traffic regulations," he Dursley Town Council said it has "raised a number of concerns" over the proposals and could not support it in its current form. Ms Spivey said after the local elections in May 2025 that she wanted to consult with town and parish councils to find areas where 20mph limits were welcomed.
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Netherlands to trial speed limits on cycle lanes
The Netherlands is to trial speed limits on bicycle lanes in a bid to reduce accidents in what is believed to be the first move of its kind in Europe. The Dutch government will allow local authorities to experiment with imposing recommended and mandatory speed limits on cycle lanes starting from next year. The measures are part of a new multi-year plan submitted to parliament to cut the number of road accidents in the country famous for its love of bikes. Municipalities will also be allowed to investigate whether or not electric bikes used to transport goods should be moved onto roads rather than cycle paths. The Dutch government boasts that the Netherlands is the number-one country in the world for cycling. 'Our population of at least 17 million people shares 22.8 million bicycles,' it says. Cycling is the second-most popular form of transport, with 36 per cent of Dutch people saying it is their most used method of getting about, compared to 45 per cent who opt for a car. However, it is estimated the number of accidents involving cyclists will increase significantly by 2040 if current cycling policies stay the same. Cyclists account for 39 per cent of all traffic fatalities and make up 70 per cent of victims who have been seriously injured in the Netherlands. Two thirds of those seriously injured are over 60 years old. A budget of £42.4 million has been allocated to improving safety through increased training initiatives and efforts to cut risky behaviour such as using electric bikes 'tuned' to remove their speed limiters or running red lights. A goal has been set for a quarter of cyclists to voluntarily wear helmets within 10 years, compared to the 4 per cent who did in 2023. The Dutch News website said that depending on the pilot scheme the moves could be rolled out across the country. The trial is likely to be closely watched in Britain, where there is growing disquiet over the risk posed to pedestrians by speeding cyclists. Death by cycling Cyclists who kill pedestrians are to face life imprisonment under new laws. The offence of causing death by dangerous cycling will be brought into line with motoring laws following a series of amendments tabled in April. It closes a legal loophole that meant cyclists who hit and killed or seriously injured pedestrians were charged under a law from 1861, which was intended for riders of horse-drawn carriages. In May, an 80-year-old woman died in Manchester after being hit by a cyclist taking part in a charity bike ride. The same month, new data revealed that cyclists were more likely than motorists to hit and injure pedestrians in London's parks. Nine pedestrians were struck by cyclists in the capital's Royal Parks, which include Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Richmond Park, between January 2024 and April 2025. In contrast, no pedestrians were struck by cars, accident logs held by the Royal Parks show.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Oxford's 20mph zones delayed until Botley Road reopens
Plans to introduce new 20mph speed limits in Oxford have been put on hold until a major road reopens. Oxfordshire County Council said a review of the scheme would take place after assessing the impact of upcoming traffic filters, which will fine drivers £70 for using selected city centre the trial has been delayed due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road, which has been shut since April 2023 as part of Network Rail's revamp of Oxford Railway 20mph rollout, replacing 30mph limits where supported by local councils, was backed by an £8m budget approved in February 2022. The scheme was originally due to be completed by the end of the 2024/25 financial year, but a review of Oxford's roads has yet to take of Tuesday's full council meeting, Labour councillor Brad Baines submitted a written question to Liberal Democrat transport cabinet member Andrew Gant, asking why Oxford still did not have "a comprehensive 20mph network". 'Deliberately deferred' Gant replied: "[The] traffic filters will be a trial scheme with various uncertainties, so we don't know exactly what its impact will be."We want to understand the impact of this and other schemes before assessing the need and implementing further 20mph limits in Oxford."And he told councillors at the meeting: "The short answer is Botley Road. It's on the list of the 20mph scheme and has been deliberately deferred until the Botley Road finishes."Bicester, parts of Banbury and Carterton are also awaiting a review of 20mph speed programme is part of the council's vision zero scheme that aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on roads. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Why Immigration Laws Get Ignored
America expects many of its laws not to be followed — just look at speed limits. Immigration is yet another example, says Bloomberg Opinion columnist Clive Crook. (Source: Bloomberg)
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Views sought on 20mph speed limit plan across Isle of Man's north
Residents living in the north of the Isle of Man are being asked for their views about plans to bring in 20mph (32mk/h) speed limits in some built-up is part of a wider consultation exercise being carried out by the Department of Infrastructure across the island which could see the lower speed limit being introduced in some residential living in Maughold and Ramsey, as well as Andreas and Kirk Michael and surrounding areas, can have their say until 1 maps are available to view online, and feedback is being sought on which roads should have a 20mph limit. In May, Tynwald approved the DoI's implementation plan for the scheme, which outlined that it would undertake increased public involvement, and how the project would be installed over the next 18 near schools, hospitals and care homes, along with places with an increased probability of vulnerable people, would be prioritised under the scheme, Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood has previously can leave feedback by selecting the road they wish to comment on through am online portal detailing the can also be sent by email to the traffic regulation order consideration of feedback, new speed limits are set to be installed in the with Douglas and Onchan residents closed on Friday, and implementation of new speed limits will get under way shortly. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
