Majority of Brits want 20 mph zone at schools

Date: 15/8/2011

The majority of Britons would be in favour of seeing a 20 mph speed limit set for motorists travelling down roads outside schools.

Indeed, a recent poll by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) found that 67 per cent of respondents supported such action.

Meanwhile, a further 38 per cent of people believed there should be 20 mph zones set up on roads where there are amenities like parks and shops, although only 25 per cent of individuals agreed this should be the default speed in all built-up areas.

To enforce these limits, 40 per cent of Britons said they thought the best way to ensure motorists stuck to the rules was to use signs, while 21 per cent noted that they would support a combination of speed cameras and road humps.

IAM Head of Road Safety Kevin Delaney says: "If lower speed limits are restricted to locations and times where there is an obvious need, responsible drivers - who are the overwhelming majority - will adhere to them without the need for enforcement."

According to the 2011 Sainsbury's Car Insurance Driver Behaviour Index, a "dramatic" improvement has been seen in road safety in the UK, thanks to improvements that motorists have made in their own habits - such as avoiding using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

Posted by Sarah Bailey