by OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDITOR
Tory councillors who sanctioned blanket 20 mph speed limits in 90 Borders towns and villages despite the policy being vilified by their own party at national level appear to have been vindicated following a significant drop in the number of crashes in local built-up areas.
And to back up their case, statistics from Police Scotland show speeding offences per 10,000 of the population fell dramatically from over 40 a year pre-Covid to just four in 2023/24.
Scottish Borders Council [SBC] was the first local authority area in Scotland to introduce widespread 20mph speed limits in 2020, and now have a hybrid 20/30/40mph system across all towns and villages.
The Borders initiative appears to represent a completely different attitude towards lowering speeds in every built-up area from that adopted by senior political figures in the Conservative party.
There were pledges in both the UK and Scottish Conservative manifestos published just before the July 4 General Election to crack down on the widespread introduction of 20 mph limits by bringing in a 'Backing Drivers' Bill.
According to the Scottish document's roads policy: "Ensure that 20mph zones are only introduced in specific areas such as around schools and with clear community consent."
Meanwhile the Tory party nationally declared in its manifesto: "Rule out top-down blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones. While 20mph zones can help improve road safety in residential areas or outside schools, misuse undermines public trust and risks congestion and pollution.
"We are clear they must only be considered on a road-by-road basis and with the support of people who live there. We will require any new schemes to be put to a referendum and introduce a ‘right to challenge’ existing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph schemes."
And last year when the Labour government in Wales decided to follow the Scottish Borders lead with 20 mph limits in all residential areas, the move was branded 'crazy' by the then House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt.
At the same time ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that he wanted to stop "hare-brained" road calming and safety schemes, including 20mph zones, to end what he claimed was a war on motorists. The PM said he wanted to ensure such measures would no longer be forced on drivers.
Sections of the Right Wing press were also hostile to any lowering of the speed limit below 30 mph.
Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn wrote this in September last year: "The imposition of 20 mph zones on main roads is a bridge too far. And the penalties for straying a few miles an hour over the limit are out of all proportion.
"Sticking to 20 mph is virtually impossible, as I discovered, even with your foot off the accelerator. It also makes you a more dangerous driver, as you spend most of your time braking hard, eyes glued to the speedo, rather than keeping your full attention on the road ahead and its surroundings."
In a statement released this week, SBC said: "A recent examination of road accident data has indicated a significant reduction in crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles within 20/30mph limit areas in the Scottish Borders. Statistics indicate a reduction in crashes since the introduction of 20mph zones".
A total of 16 crashes that resulted in an injury within 20/30mph zones were reported to Police Scotland in 2022. This is significantly down from previous years prior to COVID. In 2016 there were 55 crashes within 20 and 30mph speed limits, 38 in 2017, 41 in 2018, 38 in 2019, 19 in 2020, and 21 in 2021.
The council added: "The figures released by Transport Scotland indicate that our settlements are now safer and there is less potential for accidents and injuries to vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists."
Councillor John Greenwell (Conservative), SBC’s Executive Member for Roads Development & Maintenance commented: “We can’t make any assumptions about longer term road trends, but this is extremely encouraging news that indicates a reduction in the number of crashes across the Scottish Borders.
"It is obviously positive news to see fewer crashes being recorded meaning our roads and streets are safer places for all. Twenty mph is gradually becoming the new normal across built up areas and more and more local authority areas in Scotland are introducing reduced speed limits as a safety measure."
The 15 Tory councillors on SBC form the largest political group at the council.
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