Bristol City Council will have to debate its controversial 20mph speed limits after a petition of almost 5,400 signatures branded them ‘ludicrous’.
The local authority's rollout of the lower speed limit was labelled ‘absurd’ in the online protest, which argued the scheme is actually making local roads more dangerous.
The groundswell of support for the petition means Bristol will have to debate its lower road speed shortly after completing the eighth and final phase of its introduction in September.
However the local authority has maintained there is ‘strong public support’ for the 20mph limit.
The petition stated: ‘No driver objects to a 20mph limit near a school for example but a blanket roll out is totally absurd. We the undersigned are of the opinion that roads will only be made more dangerous with frustrated drivers and people watching the speedo [sic] rather than where they're going!!’
‘30mph has been in place for many many years, and is the national speed limit because it is ample control in urban areas except for specific spots. Restore common sense and reverse this stupid waste of money.’
Cllr Simon Cook, assistant mayor for place, including transport, late last month said there were ‘tangible safety benefits of reducing speed to 20mph’.
There is also a petition to 'keep and extend' the 20mph zones, which has more than 500 signatures.
Surveyor's Highway Management conference will take place on September 23rd and 24th in Manchester. To register go to: www.highway.surveyorevents.com
