20mph speed limits lead to rise in road deaths, council admits

Staff writer
Cars pass a 20mph speed limit sign in Morden, south west London. Wide-ranging proposals to dramatically cut the number of deaths on the roads were set out by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick today as he also confirmed a major overhaul of the driver training and testing process.
Cars pass a 20mph speed limit sign in Morden, south west London. Wide-ranging proposals to dramatically cut the number of deaths on the roads were set out by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick today as he also confirmed a major overhaul of the driver training and testing process.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has admitted that reducing the speed limit to 20mph in 13 new zones has led to a rise in road deaths and serious injuries. A report conducted one year after the introduction of the zones found that the rate of people killed or injured has gone up in seven of the 13 zones.

However, the council is refusing to revert the areas back to their 30mph state, citing cost concerns. Patrick Anketell-Jones, Conservative councillor for Bath and North East Somerset, said: "It has cost over £800,000 to roll out the 20mph zone and it would probably cost the same to reverse them.

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