Drivers have been warned that thousands of streets in a major UK city could have a 20mph speed limit imposed on them as local authorities look to increase road safety.
The warning comes as Aberdeen City Council engages in a consultation over potential speed limit changes across the city.
The change would help promote safer travel for pedestrians and cyclists and would be in place across built-up areas.
The council’s Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee approved the move after a report found that if a driver hits a pedestrian at 30mph, they are seven times more likely to be killed than at 20mph.
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The 20mph changes would affect almost 1,500 streets
GETTYData from the Council detailed how most serious road casualties happened on 30mph and 60mph roads.
It also found that over half (51.1 per cent) of road traffic fatalities in cities and towns were pedestrians or cyclists.
Councillor Ian Yuill, who represents the Liberal Democrats for Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee, explained that making Aberdeen’s roads safer is a “key priority” for the Council.
He said: “I welcome the decision by the Committee to consult on introducing more 20mph speed limits. This will give residents the opportunity to comment on proposals for lowering the speed limit in their area.”
The proposed changes would see 1,474 streets change to 20mph and would be on top of the existing 1,203 roads which already have the limit.
There are 1,725 roads with a 30mph limit, which would be reduced to 251 as the speed limit changes.
The speed limit will be in place on roads within a 100-metre walk of a school and on residential streets, with further slower speeds in areas within the same distance of a community centre, church, place of worship, sports facility, any hospital, GP or health centre.
The committee explained that reduced speeds are expected to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles.
The council committee said: “By lowering the speed of vehicles, people will feel more secure when using the road network, which will encourage them to choose active modes of transportation more often.
“This, in turn, will decrease the number of cars on the road, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions from vehicles.”
Local authorities have also reportedly been funded to assess their roads and determine where the 20mph speed reduction is applicable.
While the consultation is underway, the council have not issued a start date for the 20mph implication, but reports have estimated changes could come into effect this year.
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Casualties are 'seven times' more likely at higher speeds
PAGlasgow city centre recently lowered the speed limit across roughly 4,000 roads to help promote safer travel and protect all road users.
The changes saw 211 miles of road including most of Glasgow city centre forced to adhere to lower speed limits to help encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling.
