Speed not only kills. It maims, frightens and leaves lives in ruins. Edinburgh City Council’s introduction of a 20mph limit is, therefore, to be welcomed. With phase one going live this Sunday, the new limit will apply eventually to 80 per cent of the capital’s streets, covering the city’s central, residential and shopping areas, and leaving a network of key arterial roads with 30 and 40mph limits.
Indeed, many of the city’s streets already have 20mph limits, which have made life more pleasant for residents. For drivers, this has been a learning process and, while the city’s transport convener Lesley Hinds has acknowledged it might take time to get down to speed, most have been quick on the uptake.
The advantages of a lower speed limit are manifold. Children and the elderly can cross the road in greater safety. Accidents have less chance of being fatal. The risk of collisions is reduced – drivers have more time to react. With increased safety, people feel more encouraged to venture out on foot, perhaps just taking a stroll for its own sake, spending more time in an area, which can be good for business and even just plain old “social interaction”.
Another plus factor is reduced noise. True, critics claims slower speeds decrease engine efficiency and cause more pollution, but the council believes the scientific jury is out on this, with some emissions rising slightly and some falling. It also makes the point that slower speeds reduce fuel consumption and cause smoother flow at junctions, which reduces pollution-enhancing congestion.
In general, though, Edinburgh’s green light for this project makes it a city that is going places safety-wise. Doubts might be raised about enforceability – does already stretched Police Scotland have the time and manpower? But the force has promised vigilance and action. Besides which, it has the backing of a growing consensus between drivers and pedestrians alike that slower is surer for everyone.
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