"It's not about being anti-car, just everyone's safety"

Monday 01 October 2018

Reducing a number of speed limits to 25mph around Guernsey is not part of furthering an "anti-car mandate", E&I's President has said, but rather about ensuring everyone can be safe on the roads.

The 81 roads and road areas on Guernsey having their limits reduced are all around community hubs such as the Bridge and Town.

Deputy Barry Brehaut said reducing speed limits in these areas would allow cyclists and pedestrians to be more comfortable using the roads.

"It isn't about getting people out of their cars, it is about giving them the choice to if they want to. We can see from the Ruettes Tranquilles that people often walk around, how it works. They have a 15mph speed limit and more people walk and cycle there, so that is the aim of the changes, to make local centres safer," he said.

"One fundamental part of this is how pedestrians view cars. Clearly in any drivers mind they are driving at a speed they think to be safe, but that isn't how people walking outside view it."

Some of the roads to have their limits reduce include Braye Road, Glategny Esplanade, Route de Picquerel and Rue des Landes.

Overall, the consultation received 301 responses, 290 from the public and 11 from organisations. 45% of those supported the proposals and 55% didn't, but E&I said many of the objections were not evidence based, or criticised a blanket approach it did not feel it was taking.

One criticism already levelled at the decision, which was made following a consultation process with the public, is that the survey was a front and the decision was made before hand. This idea was reinforced when E&I admitted to having purchased the signage that would be needed to implement the change before any decision was publicly announced.

But Deputy Brehaut said it was not a forgone conclusion that the changes would be made from the beginning.

"We went out to consultation for a reason. We asked the public and informed them that there were a number of roads that could be 25mph zones - many replies came back saying 'we are opposed to a blanket review', but that wasn't the question we were asking, we were focusing on these specific roads," he said.

Barry Brehaut, President of Environment & Infrastructure.

Deputy Mark Dorey, a member of E&I, added: "We had a full report back and we decided after a detailed discussion within the committee that it was the right thing to do.

"It was right to go ahead but we did take into account the consultation." 

It was also confirmed by the Deputies that the committee had not looked at the potential of increasing the speed limits on some roads, but they were now looking into reducing the limits on several more roads that had been recommended through the public consultation.

They will be bringing a report to the States toward the end of this year to update the assembly on their progress with the overall transport strategy - increasing road safety was a part of that. 

E&I does not need States approval to lower the speed limits on the 80 roads included in this plan though, with the decision being made at committee level. 

Pictured top: The speed tracker along the Town Quay which reminds drivers they are entering a 20mph zone, which previously used to be 25mph.