Restricting a city’s speed limits to 20mph reduced road deaths by nearly a quarter and serious injuries by a third, research revealed. A study found accident rates across Edinburgh fell even without extra traffic-calming measures and police patrols – making the scheme cost-effective.
Prior to the new restrictions, 45 out of 100 cars in Edinburgh travelled above 25 mph – but one year later, the figure had dropped to 31. Average speeds on affected roads also fell, according to the study – the UK’s most extensive evaluation of 20mph speed limits so far.
Researchers said the number of collisions in one year fell by 40 per cent to 367, and there were 409 fewer casualties – a drop of 39 per cent. A breakdown of the casualty figures reveals that fatalities dropped by 23 per cent and serious injuries fell by 33 per cent.
