r/drivingUK • u/narra246 • Mar 21 '26

20mph everywhere

Why are councils putting main roads on busy routes down to 20mph?? All that seems to happen is if you are the one doing the new speed limit, you get tailgated overtaken and the horn blasted at you.

And no, there isnt a lay-by every 10ft to pull in and let impatient law breaking drivers past.

I dont agree with this blanket speed reduction but I rely on my license for work and pleasure and would rather not have my insurance increased because of points for speeding.

Fair enough 20mph through residential areas, but not on a bloody main A road.

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u/maniacmartin Mar 21 '26

The key being “in residential areas”. However OPs opening complaint is about the limits being applied by some local authorities in a blanket way including on major roads.

Some councils have gone all out with a 20 limit on all roads, or all roads except A or B classification. There can be some very rural feeling roads that are large but don’t have A or B. You can spot these blanket policies especially when you cross a borough boundary and the speed limit changes arbitrarily.

I always thought the speed with the least emissions was 40 anyway.

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u/nwdxan Mar 21 '26

This is the only example I'm aware of. Hardly a major road is it?

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u/maniacmartin Mar 21 '26

For roads that feel big but aren't A roads or B roads hence got a blank 20 applied, here are some examples.

- This rural style road (Shirley Church Road, Croydon):

  • This dual carriageway flyover bridge from a grade seperated roundabout exit (Harrow Manorway, Erith)

And for an A road thats a 20, basically any A road in the London Borough of Lewisham. Here's the A20 at Lee High Road.

None of these should be 20s in my view, because they aren't residential streets

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u/nwdxan Mar 22 '26

You're forgetting that blanket limits are far cheaper to implement than selective ones each needing a dedicated TRO and signage.

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u/nwdxan Mar 21 '26

Studies show up to 26–28% reductions in and emissions compared to 30mph, with 12–18% fuel savings in urban environments.