20mph zones to be rolled out across Glasgow
Glasgow’s roads could see a new 20mph speed limit being rolled out.
It’s due to be agreed by councillors later on today where streets around schools, residential roads., main shopping streets and city centre roads will be affected.
A similar policy has been rolled out in Edinburgh and other local authorities and has resulted in significant cost savings over the traditional approach of providing traffic calming.
82 20mph zones have been introduced in Glasgow so far.
Councillor Anna Richardson, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: "Reduced vehicle speeds improve road safety and lead to reductions in the number and severity of casualties.
"There are also benefits in terms of reduced noise, reduced congestion, more potential for social interaction and encouragement of active travel.
"Where widespread 20mph speed limits have been implemented, the impacts on car and bus journey times have been shown to be minimal."
Her report to councillors states there has been "some concern" that speed reduction leads to increases in air pollution but there is "little research evidence" to confirm this.
It adds analysis shows a reduction of 31% in casualties in 20mph zones since they were introduced.
The introduction of 20mph speed limits was also recommended by the council’s climate emergency working group "to ensure our pace of emissions reductions accelerates".
However, Air Pollution campaigner Gavin Thomson from Friends of the Earth said: "It’s clear that reducing the speed limit, especially on residential streets, from 30mph to 20mph improves air quality.
"The argument that air pollution gets worse in 20mph limit zones doesn’t have any validity.
"Maybe there’s a perception that because there’s a lower speed limit then traffic will be travelling slower so spending more time idling and maybe therefore you get more emissions – but that’s not what happens, that’s not what the evidence tells us."
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