Drivers have been warned of new 20mph speed limits now in place across a major city as part of new safety measures, hoping to reduce road fatalities.
Aberdeen City Council has started introducing new 20mph speed limits throughout the region, with drivers warned that as soon as signs are up, the rules will be enforceable.
The new limits have begun being installed for streets in the north of Aberdeen, with drivers who breach the new limit at risk of a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Signs will be installed across the city on a rolling basis across affected streets, when the speed limits will be enforced.
Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable on our streets, and reduced vehicle speeds mean fewer serious injuries to pedestrians. Lower speeds will make Aberdeen’s streets safer for all.”
The new 20mph limit follows changes by the Scottish Government, which aims to improve road safety and halve road deaths by 2030 and reduce them to zero by 2050.
To achieve this goal, the Scottish Government developed a national strategy for 20mph zones and limits in Scotland with the intention of changing all appropriate roads in built-up areas to 20mph by the end of the year.
The strategy also hopes to reduce perception of road danger, increase the level of walking, wheeling and cycling in neighbourhoods, improve fuel efficiency, as well as change social and cultural attitudes towards speeding and reduce collision risks and severity.
Drivers can be fined £100 for breaking the 20mph limit, which becomes enforceable as soon as the signs are up
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GETTY/PACouncillor Miranda Radley explained that if a motorist hits someone at 30mph, they are seven times more likely to die than if the incident took place at 20mph.
“Improving road safety is a national goal, so I am pleased that Aberdeen City Council is playing its part by introducing 20mph speed limits in residential areas,” she said.
The council explained that once the north of the city has all the new signs in place, it will begin introducing them across the central and southern parts of the region, which is expected to be completed by the end of March next year.
The 20mph speed limits will officially be in place across the city by March 2026
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PAIn total, the council explained that roughly 1,231 streets across Aberdeen will see speed limits lowered to 20mph while a Temporary Speed Limit Order is being made for 17 streets.
While the new speed limits aim to make roads safer for pedestrians and drivers, it has been met with heavy criticism from residents who have viewed the measure as anti-motorist.
Someone shared on Facebook: “Pointless nonsense. Well done wasting another bunch of money on signs for something almost everyone will completely ignore – just like they have with every 20mph sign I’ve seen up to now.
“Thankfully, we’ve got plenty of money to pay for stuff like this since all our public services are fully funded, operating at peak efficiency and offering great value for money for the vast fortune we get charged, eh.”
The north of the city will see speed limits changed this week, followed by the central and southern parts
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ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL
The resident claimed that the rules were just “another unenforceable, unwanted, completely unnecessary attack on motorists”.
Another person agreed that 20mph could be useful around schools, care homes and hospitals, where lower speeds would be beneficial, but slammed the blanket approach.
The driver stated: “This blanket approach is expensive and not warranted except for a cash grab again, speeds are pretty much self-controlled within the 30mph limit, depending on how busy it is.
“So net zero is out the window as keeping cars in lower gears for longer will cause more pollution, the exact opposite of what LEZ is supposed to do, completely bonkers.”