Queen's University Belfast 20mph report - RAC reaction

Following a report from Queen's University Belfast into the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits, RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said:

“The findings of this study are surprising as they appear to suggest that drivers on 20mph roads in Belfast hardly slowed down at all, despite the lower speed limit, which is at odds with other reports*. It seems there is a serious problem with compliance as we would expect that even without enforcement average speeds would drop. Consequently, the study may demonstrate a need for councils to find other ways to get drivers to slow down, whether that’s through enforcement or modifying road design with traffic islands, well-designed speed humps or chicanes.

“It’s also important that 20mph limits are used in places where they stand to make the biggest positive impact, such as in built-up areas and in locations where there are large volumes of motorised traffic, cyclists and pedestrians – but clearly that depends on a meaningful drop in overall vehicle speeds. Equally, our research shows drivers are less likely to comply with a lower limit if they don’t believe it’s appropriate for the type of road.”

* eg https://info.uwe.ac.uk/news/uwenews/news.aspx?id=3766; https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/road-projects/in-progress-road-projects/emergency-active-travel-fund-schemes/benefits-of-20mph-limit-schemes; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214140519301859?via%3Dihub