Some drivers want 40mph speed limits reinstated on city expressways – but campaigners say lower speeds save lives
A 30mph speed sign (Image: Simon Greener/Newcastle Chronicle)
A petition calling for Birmingham’s expressways to return to 40mph limits has gathered more than 1,250 signatures – but road safety leaders say slower speeds are essential to saving lives.
The online petition, signed by more than 1,250 people, argues that the city’s new 30mph limits on major routes are “causing unnecessary traffic and longer journey times across the city”.
It calls on Birmingham City Council to reverse the change on expressways, which those in favour of the U-turn say were built “to accommodate higher speed traffic”.
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West Midlands road safety commissioner Mat MacDonald said he understands why some drivers are frustrated – but insisted the evidence for speed reductions is “crystal clear”.
He told BirminghamLive: “If you’re not sure what these changes deliver, just ask yourself – if you had to pick between someone you loved being hit at 40mph or 30mph which would it be?
“A collision is something that can always happen, but the right speed limit can prevent it taking a life.”
Mat, previously the chair of road safety group Better Streets for Birmingham, admitted that driving around the city can be a “nightmare at the best of times”. However, he said there were “really good reasons” for lowering speed.
“Keeping that frustration safely to one side, it’s crystal clear that there are really good reasons to reduce traffic speeds in our city,” he said.
“These roads run through communities where families live, work and go to school. In a 40mph collision, nine out of 10 of these people will be killed if they’re a pedestrian. And there have been too many real lives lost in precisely this way for us to ignore such an unacceptable risk any longer.”In changing these rules, Birmingham City Council are delivering an evidence based intervention that will reduce the number and severity of collisions, saving lives and helping to tackle the road safety emergency, with minimal impact on journey times.”I’m proud to give them my full backing, because fewer deaths and serious injuries on the roads is a good thing – for all of us.”
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The petition was set up by a user named Kay H. The local driver said: “As residents and daily commuters, we pay our fair share of taxes and deserve efficient, well-planned roads.
“Instead, Birmingham City Council has burdened motorists with Clean Air Zone charges, parking fines, higher parking charges, and now slower limits, all while roadworks continue to block lanes and delay traffic.”
Kay added that lowering limits by 10mph on busy pedestrian roads was “justified” – but said reduction speeds on expressways “made no sense”.
Writing in support of the petition, Basil from Wednesbury said: “Driving along on some of the main Birmingham roads at 30mph when the road signs are set at 40 mph is plain stupidity. Hasn’t this council got better things to do, like resurfacing a number of pot holes?”
Wandra Harris, writing on neighbourhood website Nextdoor, said she was in favour of the speed changes.
She said: “I prefer the 30mph speed limits, even though there are those who don’t adhere to them or the 40mph speed limits. I’d sooner do 30, or even 20, especially round schools.”
Cllr Majid Mahmood, transport boss at the city council, previously said: “Together we must do whatever it takes to make roads safer for everyone, which is what our Road Harm Reduction strategy sets out.”
A spokesperson for the authority added: “There is growing public concern about road safety in Birmingham.
“Dangerous and anti-social driving is on the rise, and the number of people killed or seriously injured remains high. In free-flowing traffic, driving 10mph slower adds just 10 to 30 seconds per mile.
“The small delay is worth it. Lower speeds make roads safer for everyone by reducing the risk and severity of collisions.”
