Everything we know about possible ‘city-wide’ 20mph limit in Birmingham

Amid fears over deaths and serious injuries on the city’s roads, there is hope among campaigners that such a change could make a real difference.

But others have responded to the prospect of more 20mph limits with scepticism and anger, suggesting they would be unfair on Brum’s motorists.

The debate has continued to grow after a report on a road safety inquiry said councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for transport at the city council, had sent a letter to the government requesting a “20mph zone for the whole of Birmingham”.

“He is currently awaiting a response,” the report added.

He later confirmed at a full council meeting on Tuesday, December 3, that there is a “desire to have a 20mph speed limit city-wide”.

“This is set out in the Birmingham Transport Plan and we are making lots of progress on this,” he continued.

With a possible huge change for the city’s roads being discussed, here’s a look at what we know so far.

Why is the council exploring this?

The authority declared a road safety emergency back in the summer due to concerns over dangerous driving.

Coun Mahmood has said in a statement issued last week that slower speed limits on appropriate roads would reduce collisions and save lives.

“Slower speeds are less intimidating towards those who walk or cycle – activities that we need to encourage more of if we are to reduce the number of harmful emissions and traffic levels in the city,” he added.

The council is also currently consulting on plans to slash almost all of Birmingham’s 40mph speed limits to 30mph, saying it would provide consistency, improve driver compliance and aid enforcement.

Which roads would be affected?

In his statement, Coun Mahmood said that slower speed limits on ‘appropriate’ roads would reduce collisions and save lives.

“For this reason, our Birmingham Transport Plan sets out that 20mph should be the speed limit in residential areas and where footfall is high,” he said.

“Other types of roads will remain unaffected.”

He added: “Approximately one third of the city’s roads are already subject to a 20mph speed limit.

“We would like to expand the number of roads subject to this speed limit where appropriate and are currently exploring opportunities to carry this out”.

When could these possible changes be introduced?

During Tuesday’s full council meeting, Coun Mahmood said the council was “making lots of progress” when it came to exploring the possibility of more 20mph speed limits.

However, it’s still relatively early days and plans to introduce such changes would have to go through consultation first.

What has the reaction been so far?

It’s fair to say the possibility of a ‘city-wide’ 20mph speed limit has proved divisive both on social media and in the council chamber this week.

This was clear when the Conservative Party’s Meirion Jenkins (Sutton Mere Green) made a ‘loony left’ jibe towards the council’s Labour administration.

“Motorists and cars are the wheels that keep the Birmingham and Midlands economy turning,” he said.

“If we put obstacles in their way, whether its unnecessary traffic lights, unnecessary closures or the extremes of the loony left trying to turn the whole of Birmingham into a 20mph limit – we’ve seen in Wales what happens when they do that”.

Others are more open to the idea, such as the 20’s Plenty for Us campaign group, which works with organisations and individuals that are trying to get a 20mph speed limit in their cities, towns and villages.

“The fuss about Birmingham City Council (BCC) wanting to set a default 20mph limit is entirely manufactured,” they said.

“BCC already has a policy of 20mph for most urban roads. It’s just seeking a sensible process and signage reg change to make it cheaper to implement.

“An urban 20mph default is at the heart of any Safe System approach to traffic management.”

What happened in Wales?

The inquiry report stated that Coun Mahmood had made clear that the recent introduction of a ’20mph zone’ in Wales had highlighted there would be “cost implications” for Birmingham council in implementing something similar.

The Welsh government sparked controversy when it introduced a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales last year.

Restricted roads are usually in residential and built-up areas where there are lots of people and often have street lights on them.

The default 20mph speed limits were introduced with the aim of reducing the number of collisions and severe injuries; making streets safer; and encouraging more people to walk and cycle.

They have split opinion however, with a recent YouGov survey suggesting that seven in ten Welsh people oppose them.