New 20mph Aberdeen speed limits to be introduced on selected city roads
Councillors have agreed to plans to introduce 20mph speed limits on streets in the northern suburbs of Aberdeen in a bid to improve road safety.
Members of the Net Zero, Environment, and Transport committee agreed to the measures during a meeting on Tuesday, January 21.
It comes following a report to the committee highlighting the Scottish Government's publication of a 'Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030' in February 2021.
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Currently, 1,203 roads in the city already have 20mph speed limits in place with an extra 1,474 streets proposed, which would be a total of 2,677.
The government's framework highlights the vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long-term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on Scottish roads by 2050.
To achieve this goal, the Scottish Government developed a national strategy for 20mph zones and limits in Scotland, with the aim of expanding 20mph speed limits across the country and ensuring all appropriate roads in built-up areas have the safer speed limit by 2025.
The process for identifying proposed 20mph streets in the central and southern parts of the city are scheduled for the first and second quarter of 2025 respectively.
Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: "Lower speeds will make Aberdeen’s streets safer for all.
"Pedestrians in particular are among the most vulnerable on our streets and a reduced vehicle speeds mean fewer serious injuries to pedestrians."
Committee Vice Convener Councillor Miranda Radley added: "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.
"If a motorist hits someone at 30 mph, they are seven times more likely to die than if the incident took place at 20 mph."