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Speed Limits) Bill Research and Information Service Bill Paper 27th February 2014 Des McKibbin Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill NIAR 928-13 This paper examines the provisions of the Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill Paper 19/15 27th February 2014 Research and Information Service briefings are compiled for the benefit of MLAs and their support staff. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but cannot advise members of the general public. We do, however, welcome written evidence that relates to our papers and this should be sent to the Research and Information Service, Northern Ireland Assembly, Room 139, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX or e-mailed to [email protected] NIAR 928-13 Bill Paper Key Points The principal objective of the Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill (the Bill) is to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by road traffic collisions, by introducing a 20mph speed limit for residential roads. The Bill provides DRD/Roads Service with the flexibility to make orders specifying that certain roads are, or are not, ‘residential roads’. In so doing, the Department has to consider whether or not the road is in a predominantly residential area or is a major thoroughfare. In order to apply this exemption it is anticipated that DRD/Roads Service would have to assess the entire urban unclassified road network (4,291km) to establish the most appropriate speed limit i.e. should the new national 20mph speed limit be applied or are the conditions right for a 30mph limit to be retained. A period of two years following royal assent has been prescribed for the DRD to carry out a public awareness campaign to ensure the public are made aware of the implications of this legislation. Under the current speed limit framework there are three national speed limits: . 30 mph on street lit local roads (referred to as Restricted Roads); . 60 mph on single carriageway roads; and . 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. However, DRD/Roads Service has the flexibility to set local speed limits in situations where local needs and considerations deem it desirable for drivers to adopt a speed which is different from the respective national speed limit. The current guidance on setting local speed limits is supportive of the current default 30mph speed limit in urban areas as it represents “a balance between mobility and safety of road users, especially the more vulnerable groups.”1 However, local speed limits of 20mph are encouraged in situations where there is a particular risk to vulnerable road users. Currently Roads Service favours 20mph zones, supported by traffic calming measures as it is generally accepted that these have a greater impact on reducing average traffic speeds, than is the case when a signed-only 20mph limit is introduced. At present there are no permanent 20mph limits in Northern Ireland. However, the latest road safety strategy2 has committed to trialling the wider application of 20mph limits; currently four schemes are underway. These are being run by the DRD in co- operation with the PSNI, who have agreed to enforce the speed limit on selected roads. 1 DRD Roads Service (2010) Setting Local Speed Limits in Northern Ireland. DRD: Belfast 2 Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy to 2020 [online] available from: http://nia1.me/1u6 Northern Ireland Assembly, Research and Information Service 1 NIAR 928-13 Bill Paper The Bill’s consultation was launched in May 2012; it sought views on a private member’s Bill that would bring about a reduction in speed limits from 30mph to 20mph on designated unclassified roads. The consultation attracted only 41 responses therefore it is unlikely that a representative geographic and/or demographic sample has been achieved. Overall the questionnaire appears to have been constructed in such a way to affirm the policy proposal: . Questions are leading i.e. they are worded in such a way that suggests the desired answer; . Respondents are asked to make judgements on society’s views rather than their own; and . It fails to ask the fundamental question of whether or not people are supportive of the proposed policy. The Department of the Environment’s consultation on Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy to 2020 provides an alternative evidence base which gives some indication of local people’s views of 20mph speed limits and zones within Northern Ireland. This shows strong support for the wider use of 20mph speed limits particularly those without traffic calming measures. This consultation also suggests that the proposals in this Bill may not go far enough, in so far as there has been a call for the wider application of 20mph speed limits to include school areas, rural towns and villages as well as urban areas. Therefore, accommodating the wider use of 20mph limits (outside of restricted roads) is something which members may wish to consider during their scrutiny of the Bill. Northern Ireland Assembly, Research and Information Service 2 NIAR 928-13 Bill Paper Northern Ireland Assembly, Research and Information Service 3 NIAR 928-13 Bill Paper Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 6 2 The Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill ....................................................................... 6 2.1 The current speed limit framework .............................................................................. 8 2.1.1 Setting local speed limits ............................................................................... 8 2.1.2 20mph speed limits ........................................................................................ 9 2.1.3 The Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2020 ............................... 11 3 Members consultation on the potential to introduce 20mph speed limits in designated restricted areas .................................................................................. 12 4 Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2020 ............................................... 13 Annex 1 Maps of current 20mph zones .............................................................................. 15 Annex 2 - NI public road lengths by local government district and Roads Service division by type of road: 2013 ............................................................................................ 41 Northern Ireland Assembly, Research and Information Service 5 NIAR 928-13 Bill Paper 1 Introduction The principal objective of the Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill (the Bill) is to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by road traffic collisions, by reducing the default speed limit on residential roads from 30mph to 20mph; the default speed limit on residential roads is currently set at 30mph. In addition to road safety, the bills proposer also foresees indirect benefits to public health with greater numbers of people being encouraged to walk and cycle.3 A discussion on the impacts of 20 mph schemes on increased walking and cycling is provided in Research and Information Service publication NIAR 882-11.4 This paper considers: . The main provisions of the Bill; . The current speed limit framework in Northern Ireland; • Including the current approach to setting 20mph speed limits; . Plans for 20mph speed limits within the current Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland; and . The consultation conducted by the Bills proposer. 2 The Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill The Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill was introduced to the Assembly on the 9th December 2013. The Bill seeks to amend existing road traffic law pertaining to speed limits, specifically the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. Specifically, the Bill, if enacted, will introduce a new national speed limit, of 20mph, on residential roads: 1. In Part VI of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (speed limits) after Article 37 insert— “General speed limit on residential roads” 37A.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, it shall not be lawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle on a residential road at a speed exceeding 20 miles per hour. A residential road refers to what is currently known as a restricted road, defined as: “a road which is provided with a system of street lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 185m apart”.5 It is unclear from the bill if the new category of road is a replacement (for restricted roads) or an addition to current subcategories of road (table 1). 3 OFFICIAL REPORT (Hansard). Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Bill: Mr. Pat Ramsey MLA, 5th February 2014 [online] available from: http://nia1.me/1w5 4 McKibbin, D. (2011) Impacts of 20 mph schemes on increased walking, cycling and emission levels. Research and Information Service. Member’s Briefing Paper. Northern Ireland Assembly. [online] available from: http://nia1.me/1wn 5 Article 37 of the The Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 [online] available from: http://nia1.me/1w6 Northern Ireland Assembly, Research and Information Service 6 NIAR 928-13 Bill Paper The Bill provides DRD/Roads Service with the flexibility to make orders specifying that certain roads are, or are not, ‘residential roads’, whether or not they meet these criteria. In so doing, the Department has to consider whether or not the road is in a predominantly residential area or is a major thoroughfare. Table 1: Categories of road in Northern Ireland (including the proposed residential classification) and their default speed limit6 Road
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