Edinburgh 20mph goes live on Sunday 27 | 07 | 2016
EDINBURGH WILL THIS weekend introduce the first of — what many people have argued is a draconian, anti-car philosophy — its 20mph zones which, by January 2018, will essentially blanket the capital.
And three days before the new 20mph Traffic Regulation Order comes into force for the first zone on Sunday, police have made it blatantly clear that motorists will be given £100 fines and three penalty points if they are caught ’speeding’ over the new limit.
The new restriction, which ‘goes live’ at 00h01 on Sunday, July 31, is phase 1 of the rollout of the 20mph speed limit which will cover all residential, shopping and city centre streets.
Phase 1 — the first of six — of the £2.2 million project covers much of the city centre, from Queen Street to the Meadows.
Rural west Edinburgh is also included in phase 1, with signs and lines for the new 20mph speed limit having been installed. Large 20mph signs will mark the entrance and exit of a 20mph area. These will be supplemented by smaller signs or road markings with speed limit roundels.
And don’t just think it’s motorists who are being targeted. If cyclists are adjudged to be going too fast and unable to stop properly, they would be charged with dangerous or careless cycling. Though quite how the police plan to implement that approach will be interesting.
"Slower speeds bring many benefits to the urban environment, making streets more people-friendly, promoting active travel (and thereby improving public health) and reducing the risk and severity of road collisions,” Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh's transport convener, said.
"The majority of Edinburgh residents support our 20mph scheme and we know other local authorities in the rest of Scotland are closely monitoring our experience.
"Changing driver behaviour is not an overnight thing, obviously, and it will take a bit of time for it to become second nature.
"We'll continue to help people adapt to the new limit throughout the rollout, through awareness raising and education campaigns."
And the campaign as, naturally, further supported by Police Scotland.
"We remain committed to casualty reduction on our roads, and whenever we observe motorists disobeying the 20mph speed limit, or where the public tell us there is an ongoing problem, we will respond appropriately,” Ch Insp Mark Rennie said.
The programme for the rollout of the six phases is:
Zone One: City Centre and Rural West (South Queensferry, Kirkliston, Ratho, Currie and Balerno). Speed limit applies Sunday
Zone Two: North. Speed limit applies from February 28, 2017
Zone Three: Three South Central/East. Speed limit applies from February 28, 2017
Zone Four: North West. Speed limit applies from July 31, 2017
Zone Five: West. Speed limit applies from July 31, 2017
Zone Six: South. Speed limit applies from January 31, 2018
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Jim McGill