Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
NEW 20 MPH TRAFFIC SIGNS
The labels are off and now it’s official: the speed limit in Haringey’s side roads is 20mph. There is no doubt that impacts at lower speeds greatly reduce the risk of serious injury. I have my doubts, however, whether this new limit with be observed. Driving regularly in the boroughs of Hackney and Islington, where the 20 mph limit is widespread, I am aware that 20mph speed limits are observed infrequently and then only 100 or so metres beyond the boroughs’ speed cameras. The speed limit through Alexandra Palace has been 20mph for a number of years and, despite this being a busy, public route, observance is extremely low. I wanted, therefore, to know how Haringey Council intended to enforce the new limit in our quiet side roads. In a response to an enquiry Cllr. Goldberg wrote:
“The council will be monitoring the speed limits in the borough... and consider the introduction of additional measures, such as traffic calming, where this was deemed necessary. The council will also work with Metropolitan Police who will take appropriate action where speeding problems are raised.” When the same limit was introduced in Islington, Scotland Yard’s traffic management unit wrote: “An unrealistically low speed limit in these roads will create an enforcement problem where one does not currently exist. We will not routinely enforce 20mph speed limits and zones”. (Islington Gazette.) Since then on the spot fines have been handed out but this form of enforcement is, by its nature, piecemeal. Cllr. Goldberg did not specify how the council will monitor the new limit.
The Transport Research Laboratory conducted a study for the DfT which brought together a series of findings from local authorities and international case studies of traffic calming measures. It found that the use of speed limit signs alone only had a small effect on the mean average speed, by around 1-2 mph, whereas more extensive traffic calming measures such as speed cameras produced greater speed reductions. Islington, Brighton and Bristol saw a decrease of only 1 mph the the year following the introduction of a 20mph limit.
So, in terms of reducing speed, signs have proven largely ineffective: but this is the preferred choice of Haringey Council. And the cost? A hefty £900,000. Given that the borough’s roads are in a parlous state, a patchwork quilt of repairs, I would have thought that this money could have been better spent protecting the safety of road users by repairing pavements and road surfaces: a view I imagine which would be shared by a colleague who required extensive dental reconstruction when his bike went into a pothole sending him over the handlebars.
At a time of government cuts, as Haringey representatives are constantly reminding us, it would be reassuring to think that funding was spent wisely: I fear our unsightly 20mph speed limit signs will prove, however, to be little more than a very expensive gesture.
Tags for Forum Posts: -, 000, 20, HARINGEY'S, MPH, SIGNS, SPEND., TRAFFIC, £900
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gordon T on
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michaelw, thank you for the ROSPA document - a lot of good objective information rather than opinion - should be read by anyone posting here.
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Permalink Reply by Ian on
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thanks for sharing. the report defines slow speed as 24mph and below, therefore 30mph cannot be considered fast given the 6mph difference. Given the difficulty in getting people to behave appropriately and drive to the condition of the road voluntarily, the answer is more rules and laws. The report encourage the use of low speed limits where there are problems, is this the case on all roads now subject to 20mph. As stated before I believe the anger level and frustration will increase amongst motorist that can potentially cause societal issues. Some people are stressed and frustrated motorist as is and a 20mph limit without speed calming measures on roads that some feel do not warrant is not going to make for a happier society. We also need to hear the views of motorist that use the roads everyday and not just those with low driving requirement. It also sounds from another contributor that the police themselves are not naturally interested in policing low speed zones. I think in addition to fining and collecting more monies from easy target motorist attention should be given to cyclist and pedestrians that are generally untrained in using the roads and are themselves a cause of collisions.
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Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on
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Road surfacing is a concern and it does cause deaths, cycling is now a fifth of all travel journeys in London, so I agree on being tight on road repairs. A little hot chip, (that's Asphalt,) rammed in, in the interim, will save a life.
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Well I can say quite honestly that I haven't see any change in moto risks habits since they brought in the new speed limit.
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Moto risks???? Think that was the spell-checker trying to express a sense of humour.... I did, of course, mean motorists
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Re the 4500 respondents to the consultation I note the majority were against.
And I see that only 1,000 or so were as a result of people actively responding to the consultation. I for one was totally unaware of it and I'm usually fairly switched on. So much for the community engagement thought to be essential to success.
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Part of the expected "enforcement" of 20mph zones is that some drivers will obey it which will force the drivers behind to follow suit and it will gradually become more accepted as drivers get used to it. Obviously some official enforcement would help to reinforce this as well.
My experience of cycling through Islington is that the 20mph zones are gradually becoming more accepted and adhered to. In the past when I was cycling at 20mph there'd still be cars sitting behind me with the drivers looking to get past as soon as possible (often to slam the brakes on as they reached traffic or a speed hump). Now I get the impression that they're more willing to sit behind me at the speed limit.
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