Speed bumps: the beginning of the end?

Speed bumps: the beginning of the end?
Road humps have often been criticised by motoring organisations for causing damage to vehicle suspension and tyres Photo: CHRISTOPHER COX

Councils will be allowed to introduce the 'go-slow' zones without also having to install traffic calming measures such as the 'sleeping policeman'.

The measure is being considered as part of the Government's push for more 20mph zones, following research showing that they reduce road casualties by more than 40 per cent.

Previously, councils wanting to launch 20mph schemes on groups of roads have had to do so in 'zones', backed by traffic calming measures such as humps.

But following a successful trial in Portsmouth, where 20mph limits were introduced without humps, the Department for Transport has had a re-think.

Road safety minister Paul Clark, said: "The number of people killed and seriously injured on Britain's roads has fallen by 40 per cent since the mid-1990s and Britain now has the joint safest roads in the world.

"But too many pedestrians and cyclists – including many children – are still being killed or hurt on the roads around their homes and schools.

"We have seen that 20 mph zones with traffic calming measures can make a real difference to the safety of local roads. But we've also looked at the latest research and listened to councils and residents who want to introduce 20mph limits on a series of roads where physical traffic calming measures aren't possible or practical.

"Allowing councils to put in place 20 mph speed limits on more streets without speed humps or chicanes will mean that they can introduce them at a lower cost and with less inconvenience to local residents."

A recent report in the British Medical Journal showed that 20mph zones in London had led to a 'dramatic' reduction in the number of accidents, said the DfT.

The Department is calling on local authorities to respond to its new proposals for hump-free 20mph zones by February 5. It is expected that new guidance may be issued later in 2010.

Road humps have often been criticised by motoring organisations for causing damage to vehicle suspension and tyres.

Drivers of emergency vehicles have also claimed that the devices slow them down when they are responding to emergency calls.

*The Government has renewed its call for councils to carry out speed limit reviews of their rural roads by 2011, focusing on National Speed Limit single carriageway 'A' and 'B' roads where, it says, 41 per cent of fatalities occur.

The DfT is telling local authorities that they should consider reducing the limit on the most dangerous roads where this will have a 'significant impact on casualties'.

From telegraph.co.uk