A scheme in Portsmouth has won a national award after it cut the number of people hurt in accidents by almost two thirds.
The Portsmouth City Council scheme, which covers Queen Street, Portsea, was brought in after three deaths in a year. The council lowered the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph and put in traffic-calming measures.
The scheme, which helped inspire the city’s plan to make almost all residential streets 20mph by the end of the year, was named road safety scheme of the year at the Highways Magazine Excellence Awards.
Footnote: the government is said to be closely monitoring the 20mph schemes in Portsmouth and Hull, amid pressure to take a firmer stance on reducing local speed limits (Surveyor 8 November). Speaking at the launch of a campaign by road safety charity Brake, which is calling for 20mph zones in built up areas - especially around schools – roads safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick would not commit to a timeframe, but insisted ‘every measure was under constant review’.
