The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is set to draft new guidelines on the enforcement of 20mph speed limits across the UK. At present, prosecution of offenders tends to only happen when drivers repeatedly or seriously flout the law.
The ACPO officer in charge of traffic policing, Suzette Davenport, and two transport ministers – Stephen Hammond and Norman Baker – recently met to discuss the issue.
A Department for Transport spokesman said, “We welcome the Association of Chief Police Officers’ plans to rewrite their guidance on the enforcement of 20mph limits, to ensure that they are policed in the same regards as other speed limits.”
According to the Telegraph, speed awareness courses are being designed for offenders, who may avoid getting points on their licence if they attend.
As a proponent of cycling in the capital and across the UK, London Mayor Boris Johnson is keen to see the 20mph limit better enforced. The Mayor wants London to be the first to develop a speed awareness course, which could then be rolled out across the country.
One police force – Devon and Cornwall – has responded positively to the notion of stronger enforcement, “until an agreed engineering solution” is arrived at to slow drivers down. In most cases this would take the form of speed humps or chicanes.
In a recent poll, a minority of those surveyed supported 20mph speed limits in shopping and residential areas, but there was less support for reducing limits on main roads. It has been suggested that if enforcement is stepped up, clear signs with logical boundaries are needed, and that prosecution should not be the only deterrent.
As a leading UK car breakdown cover provider, here at startrescue.co.uk we are naturally keen to learn what drivers think of changes to the way motoring regulations are upheld. Do you think the UK’s 20mph speed limits should be better enforced? If so, will the threat of a fixed penalty (currently £100) and the requirement to attend a speed awareness course be enough to deter offenders? As always, please leave your thoughts below.
Breakdown Cover from 
