Roads safer after limit reduced to 25mph – E&I

A host of speed limit changes were brought in last April to slow traffic in local centres and past Blanchelande College.

Now evidence has been published about the response to those changes – although it shows that in four of the five roads surveyed at peak times, average speeds remained above the limit.

In total, 81 roads had the speed limit dropped.

The most marked change was seen on Saltpans Road – a narrow lane that runs behind the Saltpans data park site.

Before the new limit cars were already on average travelling below 25mph in both directions, at 23.1mph heading west and 24.4mph going east.

But it has now dropped to an average speed of 20mph and 20.8mph respectively.

On La Route du Braye cars were travelling at between 28.3mph and 29.5mph on average. This has dropped to 26.3mph going east and 27.8mph going west.

Rue du Friquet also saw a drop. Northbound traffic was previously travelling at 28.6mph. This dropped to 26.9mph under the new speed limit. Similarly southbound traffic dropped from 28.6mph down to 27.3mph.

Route du Picquerel – the coast road near L’Islet – had an average peak time speed of 28.9mph and 28.6mph before the change. This dropped to 26.9mph in both directions.

‘Although the changes may look small, they are significant,’ said an Environment & Infrastructure spokesperson.

‘For every 1mph reduction in speed, there is a 6% reduction in likely collision frequency and a 4% to 5% reduction in the likelihood of serious injury or death being caused in the event of a collision with other road users.

‘The fall in average speeds in Braye Road, for example, has seen the statistical risk of collisions fall by 10% to 12%, while the same risk in Saltpans has reduced by 18% to 21%.’

The spokesperson said the reduction in speeds would reduce collisions and, when crashes do occur, people are likely to be less badly injured.

‘There is also evidence to demonstrate that lower vehicle speeds are a key factor in increasing uptake of walking and cycling,’ they said.

‘This is partly because reducing speeds reduces the risk – both perceived and actual – to unprotected road users, and partly because lower speeds help to create an environment more generally amenable to walking and cycling. Walking and cycling are important and very effective ways of increasing physical activity, which has many significant benefits in health terms. Walking and cycling for transport reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity and type II diabetes, for example, and has a positive effect on mental health. Increased active travel also displaces travel by private motorised vehicles, which reduces the associated negative environmental effects such as greenhouse gas emissions and air, ground, water and noise pollution.’