Transport Scotland has provided £78,000 to Argyll and Bute Council to identify suitable areas to introduced 20mph restrictions locally, for a trial period, aimed at making streets safer and encourage active travel choices.

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee heard how the money will fund an external consultant, for a year, and any additional resources required to deliver the project such as surveys, producing publications and software.

It is estimated that the project will take up to two years to complete. Key stages will include:

• Reviewing speed limit plans already proposed by Scottish Government-funded consultants;
• Procuring traffic and speed surveys;
• Liaising with community councils and elected members;
• Preparing and implementing Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders;
• Analysing data during the trial period, including monitoring feedback from communities, businesses and other stakeholders;
• Producing the revised schedules permanent Traffic Regulation Orders, and any additional traffic calming methods, where required.

The project is in response to a Scottish Government commitment to create a healthier, greener and safer Scotland and that the introduction of 20 mph restrictions can help create a safer street environment that can be shared more equally between different road users.

Currently the default speed limit on restricted roads (generally where there are street lights) is 30mph. In December 2023, the Scottish Government advised that it would follow its 20mph project locally through traffic regulation orders rather than a using a default 20mph speed limit on all restricted roads.

Monitoring and evaluation before and after the trial will inform whether or not limits have achieved appropriate speed reductions. If not, and without funding for physical measures like signage, chicanes and speed bumps, the speed limits may revert to existing levels.

Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, said: “Our roads are used more than they have ever been, in different ways, so we have to make sure they work for everyone.

“I welcome this Scottish Government funding because it will help us gather enough data to make informed decisions we can use going forward. We are not deciding to implement any restrictions right at this moment – we will have more detail to consider at a future meeting. The 20mph zones might not be right in every instance, but this is our chance to find the right speed for the right place. If asked for your views, I would encourage you to feedback.”

Statistics indicate that a pedestrian being struck by a car travelling at 30mph is seven times more likely to result in a fatality than someone being struck at 20mph.

(Picture – Yay Images)