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St. Helier has seen a 35% drop in collisions since introducing a 20mph limit four years ago, Ministers have argued in response to a petition against cutting limits across the island.
The petition was started by mechanical engineer Bradley Bechelet as a reaction to a consultation asking for islanders’ views on lowering the speed limit on around 50 roads.
The petition has gained more than 1,700 signatures since it started on 20 June this year. E-petitions that reach the 1,000-signature threshold receive a response from a Minister.
In their response, Ministers argued that current speed limits can be inconsistent and incoherent, which makes the road network less legible. They cite a 2016 framework by the Comité des Connétables for island-wide speed limits, which aimed to remedy this.
The 2016 framework planned to keep the 40mph all-island maximum, creating a unified 30mph speed limit across urban and built-up areas, and adding 20mph limits in areas like village centres and tourist bays where many people walk, as well as near schools on a part-time basis.
The framework kept Green Lanes at 15mph, with priority to pedestrians, cyclists and horses.
In their response, Ministers state: “Effective speed management is a key part of creating a road environment in which all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, etc. feel welcome and safe.
“Such measures support active travel in line with States’ policy, and just as importantly will provide a greater perception of safety and a more comfortable living environment for communities.”
Pictured: The petition has more than 1,700 signatures.
They added that speed limits make the road network easier to understand for both tourists and locals – for example, making village settings easier to understand and navigate.
Finally, they wrote, speed limits have a role in making roads safer, particularly vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders, who make up 64.2% of all road traffic accident casualties and 81.8% of those who are killed or seriously injured.
They added: “Studies have shown that if hit at an impact speed of 50km/h (31.1mph), a pedestrian has a 29% risk of fatality, this reduces to 13% at an impact speed of 40km/h (24.9mph) and further to 5% at 30km/h (18.6mph).
“Speed reductions have also been shown to reduce cycling injury risk, with a study finding that 20mph roads have a 21% reduced chance of injury when compared with 30mph roads.”
They also said that collisions in St. Helier had dropped by a third since 20mph limits were introduced in 2019.
Meanwhile, a petition asking for St. John's Road in St. Helier to be made one-way has topped 700 signatures.
Among those opposing the change, which the Government said is aimed at making the area safer, is one of the Government's own senior transport planners, Rob Hayward, who is arguing that it will cause more safety issues by diverting traffic down Parade Road and turning the quiet residential area into a "major artery".
Pictured - top: a 20mph limit is already in place around Sion. (Rob Currie)
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