Managing the levels of vehicle speed is one of the biggest challenges faced in road safety today. The speed of a vehicles directly influences the risk of a collision as well as the severity of injuries sustained, and the likelihood of death resulting from that collision. That is why the Scottish Government is committed to implementing 20mph speed limits on roads where it is appropriate to do so.
Argyll and Bute Council has received funding from Transport Scotland which will allow us to identify suitable roads within our Authority and introduce 20mph speed limits to make our streets safer and encourage active travel choices.
Local knowledge is important when making such changes, and we will be inviting local communities to help us identify the roads most appropriate for a lower speed limit of 20mph.
Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 (RSF2030) supports this commitment. It promotes a strong and strategic approach to creating a safe system, with speed management being a priority.
The strategy's vision is: “slower today for a safer tomorrow”. Even small reductions in speed reduce the risk of fatal and serious collisions - the speed of a vehicle directly influences the risk of a collision as well as the severity of injuries sustained, and the likelihood of death resulting from that collision.
To achieve this, Argyll and Bute Council will assess its existing road network and identify roads which are appropriate for a lower speed limit of 20mph.
We take our starting point that all 30 mph roads are appropriate for a lower speed limit of 20 mph. However, we acknowledge that there will be some inconsistencies; where some roads meet the place criteria but are not appropriate, and other roads which do not meet the place criteria but are appropriate, for a lower speed limit of 20mph.
This is where local knowledge and community feedback is key to setting the most appropriate speed limit for the environment. In addition, speed surveys will be carried out across Argyll and Bute before and after the new limits are introduced to allow the Council to gauge the impact and effect of the changes.
Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services: "This will help us gather enough data to make informed decisions we can use going forward. It is our chance to find the right speed for the right place. If asked for your views, I would encourage you to feedback.”
We will be starting the project in Helensburgh and Lomond and will move to the other areas in due course. When we reach your area, we look forward to hearing your views.
For more information about Project 20, please see the Environment, Development and Infrastructure committee paper.
