Council vehicles exceeded Borders 20 mph limit 83 times in a month

by DOUGLAS SHEPHERD

When councillors in the Scottish Borders approved a £1.2 million experiment involving the introduction of 20 mph limits in over 90 towns and villages across the region the local authority's 4,000 staff were urged by senior management to support the trial initiative by making sure they complied with the new rules.

The experiment, introduced last October with money from the Scottish Government, and monitored by Edinburgh Napier University, has had a mixed reception so far.

Some communities have given the 20 mph limit a warm welcome following evidence that speeds in built up areas have fallen while some road users have claimed the decision to use the Borders as a 'guinea pig' was unnecessary.

But now it has been revealed that during the course of February this year alone 65 of Scottish Borders Council's own vehicles which are fitted with tracking devices chalked up an estimated 83 incidents in which the 20 mph limit was broken. The highest recorded speed was 37 mph.

The statistics were provided by the council in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

The requester asked for the number of incidents of council vehicles (that are fitted with Vehicle Trackers) that have exceeded the 20mph speed limit between 01/02/2021 and 28/02/2021; and the highest speed that a council vehicle (fitted with a Vehicle Tracker) has achieved in a 20mph speed limit between 01/02/2021 and 28/02/2021.

In reply, the local authority's Assets & Infrastructure department wrote: " I have interrogated the vehicle tracking system that our vehicles use and can provide the following information with a degree of confidence and excluding errors on the mapping system:

"01/02/21 to 28/02/21 Vehicles with functioning trackers: 65; Miles covered: 59,955 ‘Pinged’ incidences of vehicles travelling at more than 20mph in a 20mph speed limit: 83. Highest speed: 37mph. Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, no guarantee is made."

In an update to its employees last year entitled "Spaces for People 20mph trial" the council explained: "We will implement the pilot project for up to 18 months, thanks to funding worth £1.2m from the Spaces for People programme which is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Sustrans Scotland.

"Spaces for People aims to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and wheel for every day journeys through the temporary infrastructure works. We would ask that all staff support the trial and please comply with the new temporary speed limit."

And later, in a separate communication, the workforce was told: "It is important staff who drive as part of their duties are fully aware of these changes, and comply with the new 20mph limit."

The memo added: "How will you be making staff and public aware of the changes? We will be providing updates to staff in particular those who drive as part of their duties and operate from depots. We will be carrying out a public communications campaign and aiming to work with schools to highlight the changes and the potential benefits."

A report will be taken to full Council this summer including details of an evaluation of the scheme by Napier University, community council surveys and public consultation, with decisions expected to be made on which schemes to retain and which should be removed.

A public consultation on the trial was launched by the council on May 10th and will close on June 7th.

At the consultation launch Councillor Gordon Edgar, Executive Member for Infrastructure, Transport and Travel commented: “The 20mph trial, which has been in place for the last seven months, was introduced to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and wheel for every day journeys.
“With it having been in place for a significant amount of time during the coronavirus pandemic, we now want to get feedback from Borderers as to how effective it has been.

“Whether you are a keen walker or cyclist, have a business which operates in the Borders, live in this part of the country or drive on the roads across the region, I would urge you to feedback your specific experiences with the trial and how it has impacted your travel."