20mph speed limits were introduced on most roads within York about 10 years ago. They were the brainchild of a then Labour Councillor. The project was hugely expensive to implement.
The police said they were simply weren’t able to enforce widescale restrictions of this sort, but rather they would continue to focus their speed cameras at known accident black spots.
Ironically “before and after” speed checks revealed that average speeds on some roads had actually increased after a 20 mph limit was introduced. Changing kerbside parking patterns contributed to the changes in vehicle speeds that were noted on other streets.
The Labour Councillor involved stood down from the Council at the subsequent election.
One feature of Labour’s plan was to maintain the 30 mph limit on bus routes. The justification behind this was the need to continue to make public transport a relatively speedy and reliable transport option in York.
However, the plans did reveal some anomalies. In several cases, very short cul de sacs which connected with roads which retained a 30 mph speed limit, had to have 20 mph restriction signs erected at their entrances. In some cases, the cul de sacs were so short (e.g. School Street from Front Street) that it would have been impossible for a driver to reach more than 10 mph in the space available.
Campaigners wanting speed restriction modifications – and a pedestrian crossing – on Hamiton Drive have rightly pointed out the confusing changes in speed limits on the road. The cul de sacs which lead to the rear entrance to Acomb School (Carrick Gardens & Nursery Drive) both have a 20 mph limit. A 400-metre stretch of Hamilton Drive does not. 20 mph limits apply to the sections of Hamilton Drive which are close to the Hob Moor and Our Lady’s schools.
This is an obvious anomaly and exists because the number 16 bus service operates on Hamilton Drive. We doubt if that service averages much more than 20 mph anyway because of parked vehicles on what is a relatively narrow carriageway.
Nevertheless, it is surprising that Councillors representing the Holgate area have only recently challenged the logic behind the inconsistent speed limits on Hamilton Drive.
Establishing a 20 mph limit -although these are in practical terms not likely to actually change the average speed of vehicles using the route – would be less confusing. It would also be relatively cheap to implement, requiring only the removal of the derestriction signs at the limits of the existing 20 mph sections.
Of course, the 20 mph signs on adjacent cul de sacs would also then become superfluous
NB. The catchment area of Acomb school is such that many pupils walking to school will never have to cross either Hamilton Drive or Acomb Road. They already live on the school side of both roads. Some of the others have a pelican crossing near Manor Drive South
York News Focus 