NI drivers react to idea of 20mph speed limit for residential areas

Drivers in Northern Ireland have been sharing their thoughts after Stormont’s Infrastructure Minister said reducing the speed limit to 20mph in residential areas should be considered.

John O'Dowd made the comment yesterday in Stormont.

The Minister pointed to laws already introduced in Wales but said he would be in favour of a different model for Northern Ireland.

This month marks one year since the Welsh Government introduced a default 20mph speed limit. It applies to restricted roads, typically located residential and built-up areas.

Minister O’Dowd said, " I think there is grounds for examining it in residential areas, where we reduce speeds from 30 miles an hour to 20 miles an hour in residential areas in terms of housing developments etc.”

"It may not be possible in terms of main thoroughfares."

He added, "We have to drive home a message that speed kills and causes serious injury. One of the lessons from Wales has been while the scheme was implemented in a much broader way than I would consider, it has reduced speeding, it has reduced serious injury, so it has had a certain positive impact.”

"But I think the controversy around it was unfortunate and led to opposition and the wrong conversation. So I wouldn't suggest that we introduce a 20 mile an hour zone across the board, but I do think in residential areas it is something we should consider."

Reacting to the comments one driver said, “I think that would be a really, really good idea because there are so many people that just drive erratically, especially where I live where there are a lot of children”.

Another driver told us, “In Wales the statistics are back and it's working. People might not like it but if it saves lives, I’m happy to do it.”

But other drivers are not so keen on the idea.

One said, “I think with 30mph you still have plenty of time to stop…I think 20mph is too slow”. Another told us, “I think bringing it down to 20mph is excessive.”