Fleets should welcome wider use of 20mph limits in urban areas due to the “clear-cut” benefits to risk management, says FleetCheck.

FleetCheck says the case for wider use of 20mph is pretty much clear-cut in terms of risk management

As debate rumbles on over the introduction of such limits on UK roads, managing director Peter Golding said the subject had become politically controversial – but added that the argument for car and van operators was unambiguous.

“When the Welsh government introduced their blanket 20mph limit last year, they did so on the grounds that it would save lives every year. It’s a position that very much chimes with fleet management best practice.

“Obviously, the speed limit on any road is a balance between journey time and accident risk, but it is very difficult to imagine that any vehicle operators are having their overall efficiency reduced in urban areas by a switch from 30mph to 20mph.

“In risk management terms, the case for wider use of 20mph is pretty much clear-cut and because it is likely to reduce accidents, should be welcomed by fleets where it is proposed to replace current 30mph limits.”

FleetCheck is not the only fleet firm to spotlight the positives of 20mph zones – Venson Automotive Solutions has also said that such zones, “in the right places”, can deliver “huge safety benefits as well as help reduce harmful emissions and make our towns and cities nicer places to be”.

FleetCheck’s Peter Golding added that arguments against 20mph limits appeared to mainly come from private motorists who felt that it was simply too slow.

“There’s no doubt that the first time you drive through a lengthy 20mph zone, it does feel as though you are travelling at a much-reduced speed but the truth is that by the time you have added all the normal journey factors into the equation – from congestion to traffic lights – you won’t be arriving at your destination any more than a few moments later.

“Sadly, it’s a debate that is becoming less and less fact-based and more about politics. For that reason, politicians themselves may think twice before wider implementation in the future. However, fleets, with very real Health and Safety responsibilities, are bound to take a different view.”

Research by Venson shows opposition to 20mph zones remains widespread; its poll found only 14% of drivers support implementation of schemes in their area.

And a study carried out by Startline Motor Finance found seven out of 10 motorists (73%) say that the 20mph speed limit adopted in Wales shouldn’t spread across the rest of the UK.

Following the 20mph rollout in Wales, the UK government has said it’s reviewing guidance on 20mph speed limits in England “to prevent their blanket use in areas where it’s not appropriate” – part of its pushback on “anti-car measures” and reinforced in its Plan for Drivers, published ahead of a possible general election this year and widely regarded as a move to build voter support.

In Wales, enforcement of the blanket 20mph limit will start this month – although ministers have said not all drivers caught speeding will initially be prosecuted, just the most dangerous offenders. But two of the candidates to be the next Welsh Labour leader have stated that the public should be able to have their say on whether the policy remains in place.