20mph speed limits spark outrage amid fears some elderly motorists 'have decided to stop driving'

Residents caught slightly over the limit have voiced their discontent, particularly in areas like Carnon Downs near Truro, with many taking their anger to social media.

Devon and Cornwall Police have initiated enforcement of 20mph zones where evidence shows regular breaches, as highlighted by the head of VisionZero, Adrian Leisk.

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He told the BBC: "This is not about catching an infinite amount of drivers, it's about trying to change behaviours.

"We enable local communities to monitor speed, capture that data... if there's a problem with compliance then we've got dedicated detection teams."

If compliance issues arise, dedicated detection teams are deployed. This approach aims to address concerns raised by some villagers about speeding.

Complaints about revenue generation have emerged from residents caught speeding, including Annie Hewitt, who attended a speed awareness course after being detected driving 25mph in Carnon Downs.

She explained how a lot of people in the village believe the enforcement is more about raising money, rather than cracking down on drivers going slightly over the speed limit.

Some older drivers with previously clean licences have been particularly upset by the enforcement. Hewitt added: "I know of two who have decided to stop driving as a result."

Cornwall Council has a target to reduce both death and serious injury by 50 per cent on roads by the end of the decade, with 20mph speed limits expected to be a big part of this.

It also points to research that suggests that someone struck by a car at 20mph has a 90 per cent chance of survival, compared with just a 50 per cent survival rate when hit at 30mph.

Other research suggests that 75 per cent of road transport particulate emissions come from tyre and brake wear, not exhausts. This reinforces the calls for slower speeds and more 20mph roads.

One councillor, Martyn Alvey, wrote on Facebook to explain how it was arranged by both Feock and Kea Parish Councils in response to complaints from locals about speeds.

He added: "The reason we've put 20mph zones in is to make the place better for pedestrians, for cyclists and for the people living there we ask is that you slow down and respect the wishes of the people in that village or town."

In 2021, 47 people were killed and 647 were seriously injured on Devon and Cornwall's roads, with Vision Zero South West aiming to eliminate all road deaths and injuries to zero by 2040.

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There are more than 200 Community Speedwatch groups across Devon and Cornwall who support police by recording details of speeding vehicles using approved detection devices.

At this point, the owners of the vehicles clocked are contacted with letters explaining the potential risks and consequences of their behaviour.

Vision Zero South West warn that repeat offenders will be visited by the police, irrespective of if they live in Devon or Cornwall, or not.