Birmingham’s City Council that is led by a coalition between the Liberal democrats, Greens and independent councillors have all encouraged to make Birmingham the first city in England to be braced by 20 miles per hour speed limits. This is planned for every route, except major A roads, to cap the speeds for cars and drivers by 20 miles per hour.
This new 20mph speed limit serves as a stark contrast to Birmingham’s once celebrated heritage of mass manufacturing of vehicles and being a pioneer in road engineering.
Birmingham City Council has commented on this plan that,
“A limit of 20mph will be standard on all local roads.”
And that,
“residential neighbourhoods and local centres will be places where people are put first.”
The Birmingham Town Hall leaders have insisted that this will ensure that private vehicle drivers “no longer dominate street life,” and will encourage more residents of Birmingham to walk or cycle instead. This plan also promises to reallocate space on the tarmac roads for building a public transport system that is believed to be better for a major city like Birmingham.
This, however, has already been spoken out against by opposition parties in Birmingham, with Reform UK’s Jex Parkin saying that this was “a blanket measure” and is not “acceptable for motorists.”
The Department for Transport had already said in June that the 20mph speed limits “should only be used where they are appropriate and supported by evidence.”
But the Birmingham City Council has still stuck to its plan with their campaign, “Slower is safer”, reiterating facts that lowering the speed limits to 20mph will:
- Reduce likelihood of collisions.
- Reduce severity of injuries from a collision
- Decrease financial impacts of collisions on the economy.
- Reduce the impact of private cars on residential areas such as congestion and air quality.
- Encourage walking and cycling.
- Improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
