Police Enforcement

I recently answered a question from a campaigner on police enforcement of 20 mph limits. Here is my answer :-

Well lets start at the beginning. Before the 01/2006 guidelines then the 20 mph Zones were meant to be self enforcing with physical calming. So if that is the case then the police felt that enforcing such zones was not worth while because there were really no major compliance problems. They felt that enforcing 30 mph limits without physical calming was always more cost effective and efficient than enforcing 20 mph zones.

At the time 20 mph limits (without calming) were limited to single streets and not used on an area wide basis. Technicalities caused problems with enforcement :-

1. Most speed detection devices were “radar” based and were not “type approved” for speeds lower than 20 mph.
2. Most 20 mph limits were quite short (such as outside schools) and did not allow sufficient distance for measuring the speeds.

There are two developments which have overcome such objections :-

1. Now most speed detectors are “laser” based and “type approved” from 0 to 200mph.
2. Now 20 mph on an area basis provides no problems with the distance for measurement.

Hence there is now no reason for 20 mph to be opposed by the police on the grounds of not wishing to enforce it. Especially as we are (when looking at authority wide 20 mph) talking about the same roads that they were enforcing at 30 mph.

Unfortunately, the Police have been very slow to react to this and poor at sensing the changing public mood. Hence many Police forces still subscribe to the old view that 20 mph limits do not need to be enforced.

However, in Portsmouth, Warrington , London and Oxford this is not the case. 20 mph speeders there are being given tickets!

Best regards

Rod