Working Towards Safer Streets In Inverness - 20mph speed limits

29th August 2017

The Highland Council is working with a national charity to promote safer streets in the city of Inverness.

Other towns in Highland including places in Thurso and wick are in preparation.

Living Streets - the UK charity for everyday walking - has secured 12 months funding from the Scottish Government to work in 4 communities across Scotland to support the introduction of 20mph speed limit areas.

Living Street Project Coordinator Barbara Allan said: "The project aims to work with local authorities, community organisations, residents and other interest groups to support the role everyone can play in introducing lower speed limits.

"The project will offer hands on support to local authorities and community organisations in developing, designing and introducing lower speed limit areas.

We would like people to get in touch with us via our survey to tell us what they think of the current 20mph area. Are you aware of it and how does it impact on you? The survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2L37DS8 "

The survey will have a two fold purpose - to get your views on the 20 mph area in Inverness and how safe these streets are to cycle and walk in, and produce valuable information to help us to look at how we promote the 20 mph area and the improvements we could make.

Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael said: "This is an important project which will help us improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Inverness. We would like our city to be as a safe and pleasant a place as possible to move around, shop and work."

20mph Inverness City Centre - PLAN

https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/17516/city_centre_inverness

20 miles per hour speed limit programme

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20005/roads_and_pavements/87/road_safety/7

Working towards safer streets in Inverness

The Highland Council is working with a national charity to promote safer streets in the city of Inverness.

Living Streets - the UK charity for everyday walking – has secured 12 months funding from the Scottish Government to work in 4 communities across Scotland to support the introduction of 20mph speed limit areas.

Living Street Project Coordinator Barbara Allan said: "The project aims to work with local authorities, community organisations, residents and other interest groups to support the role everyone can play in introducing lower speed limits.

“The project will offer hands on support to local authorities and community organisations in developing, designing and introducing lower speed limit areas.

We would like people to get in touch with us via our survey to tell us what they think of the current 20mph area. Are you aware of it and how does it impact on you? The survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2L37DS8 "

The survey will have a two fold purpose – to get your views on the 20 mph area in Inverness and how safe these streets are to cycle and walk in, and produce valuable information to help us to look at how we promote the 20 mph area and the improvements we could make.

Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael said: “This is an important project which will help us improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Inverness. We would like our city to be as a safe and pleasant a place as possible to move around, shop and work."

20mph Inverness City Centre - PLAN

https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/17516/city_centre_inverness

20 miles per hour speed limit programme

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20005/roads_and_pavements/87/road_safety/7



20 miles per hour speed limit programme

Legislation and guidance

The Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (external link)

Good Practice Guide on 20mph Speed Restrictions 2016 (external link)

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (external link)

The Road Safety Unit is responsible for preparing and implementing the 20mph speed limit programme in Highland. We have a budget of £50k per year until 2022/2033. Additional funds of £100k was approved for the financial year 2016/2017. 20 mph scheme costs already implemented show a cost range between £10k and £26k. Scheme locations with higher observed speeds will require speed reduction measures and this dramatically increases the scheme costs.

Report to the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee

Evaluation of potential scheme sites

We will review road traffic collision data as part of the evidence based process to make sure the limited funding available is directed to the most appropriate locations.

Programme

Schemes (Phase 2 - Implementation)

Muir of Ord plan (due to go live in conjunction with the new bridge opening)

Nairn plan (scheme due for completion March 2017 Report to Nairnshire Committee 7 December 2016)

Inverness city centre plan (in preparation)

Inverness Raigmore plan

Wimberley plan (in preparation)

Mount Pleasant - Thurso plan (in preparation)

Schemes (Phase 1 - Early Preparation)

Alness

Wick

Dingwall

Invergordon

Tain

Kingussie

Fort William

Maryburgh

Caol

Schemes implemented in the last 12 months

Bruce Gardens (Inverness) went live on 25 January 2017

Merkinch (Inverness) went live on 25 January 2017