Edinburgh aims to reduce speed limits on its roads

Edinburgh could reduce the speed limit on many of its roads to 20 miles per hour (mph) from late 2015 if plans are approved, making Edinburgh the first 20mph city in Scotland.

A map of proposed 20mph (32 kilometres per hour) limits for hundreds of Edinburgh streets has been drawn up after a public consultation on the plans attracted nearly 3,000 responses. Meetings and discussions with stakeholders including Lothian Buses also informed the final proposals.

“Edinburgh is taking a very bold step in introducing slower speeds for so much of its roads and we’re aware that other cities in Scotland are watching our example keenly,” said Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener. “There’s obviously a lot of work to be done to raise public awareness between now and the first new limits coming into effect. It’s undoubtedly a culture change for the whole city but we’re very encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve seen to the pilot project in South Edinburgh.”

The 20mph speed limits will encourage more considerate driving, leading to safer streets for all road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The lower speeds reduce the risk and severity of road collisions. Reducing traffic speed helps make people feel more confident about being on their local streets and helps children and elderly people to travel independently and safely.

Calmer road speeds also help to make walking and cycling more attractive options, contributing to less traffic congestion, better health, less noise, an improved environment for local businesses and stronger communities.

“It is fantastic to see Edinburgh Council rolling out 20mph speed limits across more and more streets in the capital,” said John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland (a British charity that promotes sustainable transport). “Sustrans wants to see increasing numbers of people choosing to travel actively on an everyday basis, whether on foot or by bike, and we think that reducing traffic speeds is a key way to helping achieve this.”

The new 20mph network, which will go before members of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee in a report for approval, would see the majority of the city’s residential streets and streets in shopping areas become 20mph zones.