Motoring & Transport | Posted on January 9th, 2025 | return to news
Campaigners calls for 20mph speed limit across Dorset
A campaign group is calling for Dorset Council to reduce the county’s default speed limit to 20 miles per hour.
A campaign group is calling for Dorset Council to reduce the county’s default speed limit to 20 miles per hour (mph) in areas where people and motor vehicles mix.
At an online meeting in December, representatives from 20’s Plenty for Dorset and other national speed reduction campaigners spoke to attendees about the urgent need to reduce speed limits.
Dorset Council statistics show there were 364 serious and fatal road traffic casualties in 2022 and 2023. Dilys Gartside, lead for 20’s Plenty for Dorset, spoke at the meeting about one of those fatalities.
“32-year-old Jen lost her life two years ago when waiting in central reservation for traffic lights to let her cross the road,” Gartside recalled.
“A car driver’s phone had rung shortly before her 4×4 Frontera mounted the central reservation, launching Jen’s body with such force that it demolished the pelican crossing supposedly there to help her. I had known Jen since birth.”
The likelihood of a fatality or serious injury at 20mph is just 10 per cent. The risk increases to 40 percent at 30mph, and 80 per cent at 40mph.
Dily says: “Statistics clearly show that speed is usually a factor in collisions occurring and, when they do occur, in the severity of injury and outcomes for victims.
Dorset Council adopted a policy in 2023 that town or parish councils or local ward members can apply to reduce speed limits in their area, but their application must meet strict criteria, such as the area having average speeds at or below 24mph and significant community support.
So far, just five applications were implemented in 2024, in areas including Wimborne town centre, Bridport and Pimperne. Six more applications are currently going through public consultation.
Instead of this slow, area-by-area approach, 20’s Plenty is calling on the council to adopt the lower speed limit across the county in built-up areas, then decide where higher speeds are appropriate.
20’s Plenty for Dorset is also calling on the council to allocate £750,000 – ten times the current allocated budget – towards the cost of implementing 20mph across the county over four years. The campaigners claim this cost would be recuperated through fewer police and ambulance callouts, fewer hospital admissions, and less disruption to traffic.
As evidence, the campaign points to places like Scotland, Wales and London which have adopted 20mph limits and seen collisions and casualties reduce as a result.
Wales changed its national default speed limit for built-up areas from 30mph to 20mph in September 2023, with local highway authorities able to make exceptions where appropriate. One year on, average vehicle speeds had fallen across the country, and statistics show the number of serious casualties or fatalities had dropped by 23 per cent in the first three months of 2024.
However, the change has attracted criticism from some motorists, and local authorities in Wales are reviewing removing 20mph speed limits on certain roads.
Asked about the campaign, a Dorset Council spokesperson said: “Dorset Council has taken a progressive approach to 20 mph by introducing a bespoke policy in 2022. This policy aims to meet the needs of the local community, and this has led to the introduction of several new schemes this year with plans to consult the public on further schemes in 2025.
“Like many councils across the country, our financial position is extremely challenging, and we need to carefully consider the allocation of funds. A recent review has identified that the allocated budget for 20 mph remains sufficient to meet the current community demand.
“Residents interested in the implementation of new 20 mph speed limits in their local area should contact their Parish or Town Council or local Dorset councillor (ward member).”
For more information, visit 20splenty.org.
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