Road Humps and 20 mph Speed Limits

Emphasised the importance of local decision-making for road safety measures, noting that urban areas often use streets as rat runs and require speed bumps. Acknowledged the 1,700 deaths annually due to road accidents but stated that it is up to local authorities to decide on appropriate speed limits based on their unique circumstances. Asked the Minister to give way, but was told by the Chair that this is not a point of order and the Minister would not be giving way.

I am concerned about the high-speed traffic on the A32, which is dangerous for pedestrians and other road users in Meon Valley villages. I welcome the installation of average speed cameras but call for more measures such as 20 mph zones and acoustic noise limits to empower communities to take control of their roads.

He pointed out that road traffic-calming measures can cause complaints on both sides: drivers avoid humps by taking other routes, leading to increased traffic and noise for residents nearby. Acknowledged his colleague's intervention.

Provided a Northern Ireland perspective on road safety measures, highlighting specific examples of 20 mph zones and traffic calming around schools. He noted the importance of local endorsement for such initiatives to be successful and mentioned the positive impact of part-time 20 mph speed limit zones at Grey Abbey Primary School and Loughries Integrated Primary School in his constituency.

She highlighted the risk that traffic reduction measures in London could lead to increased emissions due to slower travel speeds and new routes, noting that London is now the slowest city to drive in.

Mr Dowd discussed the principle of subsidiarity and the importance of local decision-making regarding traffic calming measures. He mentioned a local school project aimed at reducing speed, citing figures from Statista showing 1,700 road deaths and £3.5 billion in costs annually due to speeding. Mr Dowd also highlighted issues such as pavement parking and cycle lane obstructions as part of broader traffic concerns. He emphasised the effectiveness of speed humps and bumps for accident reduction but stressed that local authorities should have autonomy in implementing these measures.

Richard Foord shared an anecdote about a pedestrian fatality on a rural road where the speed limit was 30 mph. He highlighted that since 2019, there have been 971 collisions in his constituency resulting in 12 deaths and 168 serious injuries. Foord argued for individual responsibility while acknowledging the need for state intervention to protect citizens from dangerous driving conditions. He suggested that local authorities should be trusted to implement 20 mph zones but noted resource constraints, such as Devon County Council's ability to fund only six out of 105 applications due to costs. Foord also mentioned the effectiveness of lower speed limits in reducing fatalities and injuries.

Millar highlighted the opposition to 20 mph speed limits in Wales, citing a petition with over half a million signatures and polling that shows two-thirds of Welsh voters support repealing the restrictions. He argued that these restrictions are causing significant delays for businesses, care services, and individuals, leading to increased costs and reduced service quality. Millar estimated an annual penalty of £15,000 for rural areas due to the additional time required for services like care visits. Asked Iain Duncan Smith how his suggestions can be considered non-political matters when road humps are decided by politicians. Asked if Flick Drummond would consider crossing the Floor, which was not directly answered. Robin Millar asked if Richard Foord agreed with the Labour Government in Wales imposing a blanket presumption for 20 mph limits across all areas.

He argued that the Welsh Labour Government's blanket 20 mph policy has been poorly implemented, prioritising enforcement of existing speed limits and empowering local councils to design schemes based on community needs.