New quiet lanes pilot approved to make Oxfordshire roads safer
New quiet lanes could be introduced across Oxfordshire under a pilot scheme approved by county councillors.
Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet has backed plans to develop a new programme of quiet lanes aimed at creating safer and calmer routes for people walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding.
Quiet lanes are roads where measures are introduced to discourage through traffic and reduce vehicle speeds, while still maintaining access for residents, farmers, businesses and emergency services.
The council said the new approach builds on existing Department for Transport guidance and will go further than traditional quiet lane schemes, which often rely solely on signage.
Under the pilot programme, new quiet lanes will only be considered where there is strong local support and where suitable alternative routes are available for motorists.
The authority says reducing through traffic on minor roads can help lower vehicle numbers and speeds, reduce the risk of collisions and encourage more people to choose active forms of travel.
Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport management, said the initiative would help ensure local roads better serve the communities that live alongside them.
She said: "Quiet lanes are about making sure local roads work for the communities that live there, not as cut-throughs for traffic they were never designed to carry."
As part of the pilot, all schemes will include physical measures designed to prevent through traffic, such as gates or bollards, alongside quiet lane signage and lower speed limits, which are expected to be set at around 20mph.
The council said journey times for drivers are typically only marginally affected because suitable alternative routes must be available before any scheme is approved.
Work will now begin with parish and town councils, as well as local county councillors, to identify potential locations for pilot projects.
Each proposal will be introduced using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), allowing measures to be tested while public feedback and evidence are gathered before any permanent decisions are made.
The council said all proposed quiet lanes will be assessed using a countywide framework that considers factors including safety, traffic levels, environmental benefits, alternative routes and community support.
Several quiet lanes already exist in Oxfordshire, but council leaders say the new programme will provide a clearer and more consistent approach to future schemes across the county.