Bristol to consider 20mph speed limits for safer roads
Road safety committee reviews proposals targeting high-risk areas
Bristol City Council is set to explore new proposals aimed at enhancing road safety across the city by potentially reducing speed limits on specific roads.
On 19th March, the council’s Transport and Connectivity Committee will review detailed analyses of 100 roads with current 30mph limits, which are proposed to be reduced to 20mph, based on findings indicating significant safety benefits.
Despite comprising only about 5% of Bristol's road network, these roads account for around 30% of serious and fatal accidents.
The proposals entail street-by-street evaluations considering collision histories, routes to schools, road layouts, and pedestrian use.
The council aims to engage in a data-driven approach to road safety and aims to foster safer commuting environments for all road users and residents.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, emphasized the importance of safeguarding road users and said, “Deaths on Bristol’s roads are unacceptable and avoidable. We want to live in a city where children feel safe to travel to school independently, where the air we breathe has not been polluted by unnecessary acceleration and harsh braking, and where all road users, whether on two wheels or more, can share our highways safely.”
The concept of 20mph limits is supported by previous research, such as the 2018 BRITE study by the University of the West of England, which highlighted the original rollout's success in preventing collisions and saving healthcare costs.
If the new proposals are implemented, it's estimated that around 50 injuries could be prevented weekly, aligning with Bristol’s long-term goal to eliminate road fatalities and serious injuries.
As these proposals are being shared, Bristol is simultaneously working on developing a comprehensive road safety strategy tailored for the city's needs.
To learn more about these initiatives or express interest in future consultations, residents can visit the ‘Bristol's better at 20’ website.
Additional information and related reports can be accessed on the Bristol City Council's website ahead of the upcoming committee meeting.