Taking it Slow
Reducing speed limits to 20 mph/30 kph in European cities has, on average, reduced crashes by 23%, fatalities by 37%, and injuries by 38%. Could the same benefits be achieved in smaller towns and villages? And how would such speed limits be perceived by these more rural communities?
In October 2020, the Scottish Borders Council, a predominantly rural municipality where 60% of the population resides in settlements of fewer than 5,000 people, initiated a groundbreaking traffic intervention. The council implemented a 20 mph (30 kph) speed limit trial across 97 towns and villages. Early results showed a notable reduction in average vehicle speeds by 3.1 mph (5 kph).
As ongoing research, part funded by Paths for All (Registered Scottish Charity No: SCO25535), assesses the trial’s impact on road collisions and fatalities, Edinburg Napier University has started exploring the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours of local residents affected by the new speed limits.
’20 is what it is’
Limit and bus stop, Duncan Pammenter
Most respondents perceived a reduction in vehicle speeds, with one noting, ‘There definitely is an impact, because you can almost feel [the fact] that it is slower.’ However, many felt that most drivers were not strictly adhering to the posted 20 mph limit. ‘I think they tend to go [maybe] mid-20s rather than the mid-30s that they were used to,’ one participant explained, with a general consensus that ‘most people try.’ Drivers often described their own effort in a similar way: ‘I do try to keep to not more than 22 or 23 in the limit’ and ‘I think you just slow down a bit, don't you? I'm not sure that I'm always on the 20.’
Interestingly, a group of highly compliant drivers emerged, particularly those with in-vehicle tracking systems who adhered strictly to the limit. ‘The drivers that stick to it are people that are employed, you know, the Tesco van,’ one respondent noted. Many in this group stated that they adhered strictly to the limit and were happy to do so: ’20 is what it is, and that's what I'm going to do, and I'm quite happy doing that.’
In contrast, there was a classification of drivers resistant to change. ‘You'll always get idiots... you're not going to change them,’ one respondent remarked. Drivers were, perhaps unsurprisingly, less likely to describe their own attitudes and behaviours in this way, but a few admitted to fitting this category, hinting at their non-compliance, saying things like, ‘Don't send this to the police... I mean, I'm bad, but you know what I'm saying. I haven't changed my driving [practice],’ or, by saying it outright, ‘I ignore them (speed limits) more now.’
Some participants also suggested that the new limits made drivers more observant. The signs served as a reminder to be more aware, especially of pedestrians—driving slower gave them more time to check around before making a manoeuvre. However, there were also reports of negative behaviours, with some drivers aggressively pressuring those travelling at 20 mph to speed up.
‘Just a bit safer’
Scottish Borders town, Susan Tully
Although many respondents already felt quite safe walking before the intervention, several noted feeling ‘a bit safer’ with the new limit in place and provided examples of where they noticed improvements in their daily routines, particularly when crossing roads. As one respondent put it, ‘It's much easier when the traffic's calm like that.’ There were also frequent mentions of higher perceived safety benefits for children, with comments like, ‘It feels much safer for children and young people around the area.’
Cyclists, in particular, experienced a stronger sense of safety. One cyclist shared, ‘I definitely feel safer with the 20 mph limit,’ while another noted, ‘Certainly… I feel more comfortable cycling on the Main Street in a 20-zone rather than in a 30-zone’. Some drivers also reported feeling safer, attributing it to better reaction and stopping times, as well as improved visibility. However, for most drivers, there was no noticeable change in their perception of safety while driving.
Some safety concerns persisted despite the reduced speed limit—as one respondent pointed out, ‘Two tons of steel coming past you on a fairly narrow road is always going to send a little bit of an alarm, whatever speed they are going.’ The biggest concern, however, remained the ‘carry on regardless’ drivers, who continued to drive at worrying speeds. ‘You don't get many nut cases but, you know, it doesn't take that many,’ one person observed.
More equity on the streets
Some respondents felt that the new speed limits had made road space more equitable. As a pedestrian, one person noted, ‘You do feel a little bit more confident and that you've got a bit more status on the road.’ Cyclists shared a similar sentiment, with one explaining, ‘I kind of hold my own a little bit more in terms of speed... whereas in the past I've got a little bit embarrassed thinking I was holding people up. Now it actually feels a bit more equitable.’
However, the changes did not seem to significantly impact most people’s overall quality of life. One respondent articulated that, to really achieve a change in quality of life, ‘(you) have to be a lot more radical... knocking ten miles an hour off isn’t gonna change anybody’s lifestyle or quality of life.’ Despite this, a few did mention improvements such as reduced noise and better air quality. Some also felt that the slower pace made life feel ‘calmer’, particularly benefitting those with limited mobility and anxiety.
‘Hey! We need to be at 20’
Scottish Borders town, Susan Tully
The introduction of lower speed limits has made people much more aware of speeding drivers and way less tolerant of them. As one respondent observed, ‘You certainly notice faster traffic and I think, if anything, I've become less tolerant... I just think it's a bit rude and selfish.’ Another added, ‘You make a choice to drive at 30 and you break the law...It's really obvious because they look, compared to everybody else, like they're going at 70’. There was also a growing tendency for people to challenge speeding. ‘I found myself making signs at people to slow [them] down, you know, and I would never, ever, have done that before,’ said one participant. Others shared similar experiences: ‘I gesticulate at them if they're going too fast,’ and ‘I've noticed that if I've been in a car and we're not actually travelling at 20, I’ll say, “Hey! We need to be at 20.”’
A new norm
Although the sample of interviewees was small (25 people) and composed of people who had volunteered to take part and may not fully represent the broader population, the interviews of the Scottish Borders’ population suggest that lower speed limits are generally considered a good thing. Even though the perception of improvements in safety or quality of life was sometimes modest, the vast majority of respondents did not want to revert to the previous limits. The 20 mph speed limits have fostered a greater sense of equity amongst different road users and have largely been accepted as the ‘new norm’.
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About the author:
Susan Tully, Research Fellow, Edinburgh Napier University. Tully has an academic background in Human Geography, Urban History, and Transport Planning. Previously a lecturer in Transport Policy, she has been involved in research relating to walking, cycling and, most recently, exploring public opinion and acceptance of new transport measures.
Susan Tully