20mph zones to be considered by Manchester City Council

A report from the council has suggested that additional measures, including 20mph zones, should be considered while work is underway.

20mph zones on more than 1,000 roads and 138 schools have been introduced in Manchester and, since 2014, an average speed reduction of 0.7mph has been recorded where the lower speed limit is in effect. 

Analysis, however, has shown that implementing these zones has not decreased the amount of accidents experienced.

Council executives will meet on March 9th to discuss if more work is required over a longer period of time, so that the benefits of 20mph zones can be accurately assessed.  

The number of pedestrian casualties in road accidents across the whole of Manchester dropped by around a third from 2012-14 to 2014 -16.

In three areas where 20mph zones have been introduced, casualty figure dropped by
less – 23 per cent in Gorton, 16 per cent in Miles Platting and Newton Heath and 14 per cent in Moss Side and Fallowfield.

The number of cyclists hurt in accidents fell by more than 40 per cent across the city between 2012-14 and 2014-16, but reductions were lower in the 20mph zones studied.

Executive Member for the Environment, Councillor Rosa Battle, said: “It’s great to know that the amount of pedestrians and cyclists involved in collisions has fallen considerably in the last two years in Manchester and we will continue to support 20mph zones, as part of our efforts to bring those numbers down even more.

“Now it’s important that we fully understand how effective these zones have been in terms of reducing accidents so far – and determine whether we can also invest in complementary road safety schemes, to further reduce accidents on the city’s roads.”

Also recommended in the report is support from community-led projects, such as the Community Speedwatch group.

Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a locally driven initiative where active members of the community join together with the support of the Police to monitor speeds of vehicles using speed detection devices.

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