THERE is a national campaign to promote 20mph as the best speed limit for residential areas.

The main argument is that 20mph on a residential street makes the area safer and feel different. It is easier to cross a road; 20mph has half the stopping distance (12m versus 23m) and increases the survivability of a collision by seven times.

It doesn't significantly affect journey time. In many new schemes they don't need humps, just signs. It also doesn't have to be every road, some connecting roads would be better as 30mph, like New Town Hill and Bath Rd perhaps.

Practically speaking, on many residential roads you can't often do much more than 20mph so such a limit only reduces average speeds by a couple of mph – but studies show that even a small reduction in average speeds turns into a few per cent less accidents and casualties.

20mph is good for public health – more physical activity means healthier people, and also less crashes.

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Apparently the decision to make 30mph the limit in built-up areas was made in an arbitrary fashion back in 1934 but we do not have to be stuck with it.

The World Health Organisation suggests that on roads where vulnerable road users mix with cars, the limit should be 30kph, which is roughly 20mph.

It's taking off all over the country, see 20splenty.org.uk.

Rod King – campaign director says: “This is something that is great for children; it’s something great for keeping independent mobility of the elderly, so they are active and fitter and not prematurely going into hospital or needing care; it’s great for mothers who don’t want to drive their children to school; it’s something that’s going to help active travel.”