…Or Are More 20 mph Zones Needed?
We recently wrote about the potential introduction of 20 mph zones to effectively replace the 30 mph speed limit. The Association of British Drivers is against it, but the road safety charity Brake feels the opposite. They think that more 20mph zones are needed and that they should in fact be the norm in built-up areas.
Brake explains the increase in accidents across all 20mph zones as being because these zones are becoming more widespread rather than an indicator of heightened risks as compared to a 30mph speed limit. They also feel that it would increase the number of people who felt safe enough to walk or cycle.
At 20mph your stopping distance is half that compared to at 30mph, giving you more opportunity to react to an emergency and stop before hitting anybody. This is why Brake want the government and local authorities to aim for 20mph being the standard speed limit in urban areas.