Report highlights difference in implementation of 20mph in the UK

More than 30% of roads in Great Britain’s towns and cities are now subject to a 20mph speed limit, rather than the traditional 30mph one, new research shows.

The research, carried out by Insight Warehouse, shows for the first time the extent to which road authorities have adopted lower speed limits, providing results at country, regional and local level.

Across the roads analysed, 30.2% were set to 20mph, with 30mph roads making up 67.7% of urban road speed limits. In terms of traffic miles driven the figures are much lower with only around 21.2% of urban journeys taking place on roads with the lower speed limit.

The report says this shows that implementation of lower speed limits has historically been on low-flow, residential roads rather than busy connector roads where a higher speed limit might be more appropriate if there are safety measures to protect vulnerable road users.

In terms of the population, it has estimated that around 19.1m people now live in neighbourhoods with a 20mph limit.

Across Great Britain, Wales has led the way in terms of adopting lower speed limits following the widespread, but not blanket change in urban speed limits. This analysis shows that just over 90% of urban roads in Wales are now set at 20mph, a complete contrast to the West Midlands where just less than 10% of urban roads are at that lower limit.

Progress has been made in London with more than half of all urban roads subject to lower limits, and the North-West of England is following closely with over 45% of roads at 20mph.

There are some regions where, like the West Midlands, there has been lower rates of adoption of 20mph. The East, East Midlands and South East of England all have adoption rates that are less than half the GB average.