Skip to main content

Speed Limits: Urban Areas

Question for Department for Transport

UIN 881, tabled on 12 May 2021

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a blanket 20mph speed limit across inner cities, towns and villages.

Answered on

17 May 2021

The Department published a comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph signed-only limits on 22 November 2018.

The research substantially strengthens the evidence base on perceptions, speeds and early outcomes associated with 20mph speed limits, and is the only major UK study to consider multiple case study areas and provide a national view.

The headline findings were:

  • 20mph limits are supported by the majority of residents and drivers.
  • There has been a small reduction in median speed (less than 1mph).
  • Vehicles travelling at higher speeds before the introduction of the 20mph limit have reduced their speed more than those already travelling at lower speeds.
  • There is insufficient evidence to conclude that that there has been a significant change in collisions and casualties following the introduction of 20mph limits in residential areas.
  • In one city centre case study there has been a significant reduction in collisions and casualties.
Named day
Named day questions only occur in the House of Commons. The MP tabling the question specifies the date on which they should receive an answer. MPs may not table more than five named day questions on a single day.