AGENDA ITEM NO: 4
REPORT TO:Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee
REPORT OF:Chief Environment Officer
REPORT NO:CEnO/19/10S
DATE:Thursday 17 June 2010
CONTACT OFFICER:Darren Williams Tel: 01978 297140
SUBJECT:Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales
Welsh Assembly Government Circular No:24/2009
- PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.1 To inform Members of the revised Welsh Assembly Government guidance on the ‘Setting of Local Speed Limits’, to highlight the specific requirements and present for consideration a process by which these requirements will be met by Wrexham.
2. SUMMARY
2.1In October 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government issued new guidance on ‘Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales’ (Circular No: 24/2009). This guidance for Highway Authorities supersedes that previously contained in Circular 1/93.
2.2The guidance contains a series of priority actions which the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) wishes to see implemented. The most significant being the requirement to review speed limits on all A and B roads and to implement and document any changes by 31 December 2014.
2.3In response, officers have considered and developed a process which maps out the appropriate steps required to ensure Wrexham is able to deliver against the priority actions within the timescales dictated by WAG.
2.4No additional funding has been made available by WAG to assist Highway Authorities with the implementation of the speed limit review. The costs associated with undertaking the review in Wrexham have been estimated to be in the region of £350,000. This cost will be incorporated into the Local Transport Delivery Strategy capital funding programme to be reported to Members later in the year.
- RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1Members acknowledge the progress made on the reduction in road casualties in Wrexham and support the proposed methodology and timetable for the implementation of the speed limit review.
4.INFORMATION
4.1 Background
Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales
4.1.1To date setting local speed limits in Wales has been governed by Welsh Office Circular 1/93 published in January 1993. This lays down the general principles that Highways Authorities apply in setting local speed limits.
New Guidance - Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales (Circular: 24/2009)
4.1.2In October 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government issued new guidance on ‘Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales’ (Circular No: 24/2009). This guidance for Highway Authorities supersedes that previously contained in Circular 1/93. Its application is to be considered in conjunction with the relevant legislation and other supplementary guidance for setting all local speed limits on single and dual carriageway roads in both urban and rural areas.
Objectives – New Guidance (Circular: 24/2009)
4.1.3Some of the key objectives of the guidance are:-
- the provision of up-to-date and consistent advice to highway authorities;
- improved clarity and consistency of speed limits across Wales that will reflect a level of consistency with England;
- the setting of more appropriate local speed limits, including lower or higher speed limits where conditions dictate;
- local speed limits which better reflect the needs of all road users, not just motorised vehicles;
- improved respect for speed limits, and in turn improved self compliance;
- continued reductions in the number of road traffic collisions, injuries, and deaths in which excessive or inappropriate speed is a contributory factor.
Priorities for Action
4.1.4The guidance contains specific instructions from the Welsh Assembly Government for all Highway Authorities to:-
a) review, in accordance with this guidance, the speed limits on all A and B roads, implementing and documenting any changes by 31st December 2014;
b) consider the use of speed management measures, where appropriate on their other roads, in accordance with their statutory duty in respect of road safety;
c) address routes with problems of collisions and injuries, or where there is a widespread disregard for current speed limits.
4.2Responding to the Priority Actions
Casualty Reduction in Wrexham
4.2.1 Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management and casualty reduction programmes that are designed to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds. Speed limits are however, only one element of speed management and are only used following consideration of alternative speed management options or as part of a package of measures to improve compliance.
4.2.2 Wrexham already has a successful and productive road safety and casualty reduction programme (addressing points ‘b’ and ‘c’ above). In accordance with our statutory duty, officers as part of day to day operations, proactively respond to perceived concerns and reported casualty statistics through specific and targeted casualty reduction projects including speed management measures. As required under the statutory function, priority is given to areas where there is a history of collisions resulting in personal injury.
4.2.3 Over the 10 year period since 2000, Wrexham has achieved significant reductions in casualty totals and is making good progress against the National targets for casualty reduction set by WAG in 2000 (Appendix A). The current National targets for casualty reduction are as follows:
- From a baseline of the average number of casualties between 1994 and 1998, the targets to be achieved by 2010 are:
- A reduction in the number of killed and seriously injured by 40%
- 32% reduction in Wrexham to 2009
- A reduction in the number of children killed and seriously injured by 50%
- 8% reduction in Wrexham to 2009
- A reduction in the slight injury casualty rate by 10% per million vehicle kilometres
- 45% reduction in Wrexham to 2009
4.2.4 Wrexham’s success can be attributed to the continued development of co-ordinated and targeted improvement programmes encompassing road safety engineering projects, proactive measures including the introduction of 20mph zones outside schools, a co-ordinated education, training, publicity programme and complimentary enforcement measures.
Speed Limit Review - A and B Roads
4.2.5 The most significant action in terms of the impact upon Highway Authorities is the requirement to review speed limits on all A and B roads, implementing and documenting any changes by 31 December 2014.
4.2.6 In response, officers have considered and developed a process which maps out the necessary steps for undertaking the review (Appendix A). A summary of the key processes include:
- An initial screening exercise to prioritise all A & B routes for review and implementation.
- A four year review and implementation programme to be developed and reported to Members for information.
- Annual implementation of prioritised A & B routes in accordance with the new guidance. (Circular: 24/2009 - Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales)
- Annual reporting on implementation, progress and review outcomes/ recommendations.
Proposed Delivery Timetable
4.2.7 The process has been developed to ensure delivery of the speed limit review in accordance with the requirements and timescales set out by the Welsh Assembly Government.
June2010 / ‘Process Map’ and Delivery Mechanism
(Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee)
Sept
2010 / ‘Process Map’ and Delivery Mechanism
(Executive Board)
Sept - Dec 2010 / ‘Process Map’ Stages 1 & 2 arriving at four year programme for implementation.
Jan - Dec 2011 / ‘Process Map’ Stages 3 to 6 (subject to funding)
Jan
Jan - May
Jun
Jun - Oct
Oct - Nov
Nov - Dec / Member Information Report
(Implementation Programme & Progress Report)
Assessment, Recommendations & Design Proposals
Member Information Report
(Assessment Outcomes & Recommendations)
Consultation & Final Design
Works Order
Works Implementation
**Process Map Stages 3 to 6 to be repeated for calendar years 2012, 13 & 14.
Resources and Financial Implications
4.2.8 The requirement to review all speed limits on A and B roads places additional pressures on resources. At this stage, it is impossible to fully quantify the level of resources required as the number and frequency of interventions will not be known until the assessment stages have been concluded.
4.2.9 In order to provide Members with an indication of the likely costs involved in undertaking the review, an initial cost estimate has been derived based upon an assessment of the actual costs involved in undertaking the review in a neighbouring English Authority. To implement the speed limit review in Wrexham, costs are anticipated to be in the region of £350,000.
4.2.10 The capital costs required to implement the speed limit review are associated with the annual iterative implementation stages (Process Map Stages ‘3’ to ‘6’). These costs will be incorporated into the Local Transport Delivery Strategy capital funding programme which is to be reported to Members later in the year.
4.2.11The screening and prioritisation exercise (Process Map Stages ‘1’ & ‘2’) can be delivered utilising ‘existing’ staff resources.
Regional Collaboration
4.2.12 In the present climate it is more important than ever that every opportunity to exploit savings and efficiencies in service delivery are taken. To initiate any potential for efficiency and cost savings through collaboration, a copy of the defined process map has been sent to all the North Wales Authorities with an accompanying letter seeking support in working together to deliver the speed limit review.
4.2.13 A bid for funding support via the Regional Transport Plan supported by Taith was submitted to WAG by Wrexham on behalf of all the North Wales Authorities. At present this bid is still under consideration by the WAG. Given the resource implications and the uncertainty of available funding, there appears little support regionally to collaborate on the wholesale delivery of the review. Opportunities to seek funding support and potential for savings through joint working will continue.
4.2.14In order to maintain momentum and ensure effective delivery in Wrexham, it is proposed that the Authority proceed with the review in accordance with the proposed delivery timetable.
5.EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT
A stage one equality impact assessment has been undertaken. There are no identified equality issues associated with the proposed implementation of the speed limit review in Wrexham.
- RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
The total cost of implementing the speed limit review in Wrexham is estimated to be in the region of 350K. This figure has been derived based upon an assessment of the costs involved in undertaking the review in England (i.e. cost per kilometre to assess and implement Speed Management Measures on A & B roads).
- LEAD MEMBER COMMENT
Welcomes the publication of the new speed limit guidance and supports the proposed methodology for delivery in Wrexham. Whilst acknowledging the benefits of the review for network management, road safety and promoting more efficient and sustainable forms of transport the financial implications are challenging and this work will need to be carefully prioritised against other important work in this field.
BACKGROUND PAPERS / LOCATION / WEBSITE INFO.Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales (Circular No:24/2009) / Members Library / http://wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/publications/speedlimitguidelines/?lang=en
Appendix A
Wrexham’s Progress against National Targets for Road Casualty Reduction
Year / Reduce Killed and Seriously injured by 40%1994-98 Average = 75 / Reduce children killed and seriously injured by 50%
1994-98 Average = 12 / Reduce slight injury casualty rate by 10% per million vehicle kilometres
1994-98 Average = 78.1
Actual / %Change / Actual / %Change / Actual / %Change
2001 / 65 / -13 / 4 / -67 / 78.7 / +1
2002 / 53 / -29 / 2 / -83 / 70.0 / -10
2003 / 53 / -29 / 8 / -33 / 69.4 / -11
2004 / 53 / -29 / 3 / -75 / 56.9 / -27
2005 / 32 / -57 / 4 / -67 / 54.3 / -30
2006 / 46 / -39 / 4 / -67 / 57.3 / -27
2007 / 34 / -55 / 3 / -75 / 44.0 / -44
2008 / 56 / -25 / 3 / -75 / 43.2 / -45
2009 / 51 / -32 / 11 / -8 / 43.2 / -45
2010 / - / - / - / - / - / -
** Classification of serious and slight re-evaluated and amended by the Police in 2008.
Appendix B
‘Speed Limit Review Process Map’
(explanatory notes over page)
Appendix B
Stage 1: Principals & Terms of Reference
1.1 To review, in accordance with the guidance, the speed limits on all A and B roads, implementing and documenting any changes by 31st December 2014 (could be expanded to include all roads as part an all inclusive Speed Management Strategy)
1.2 Pre-decision to review and implement on a route basis.
1.3 Data review requirements defined as:
- Route Characteristics (Rural, Urban, Village)
- Road Function (Upper-through traffic, Lower-local access)
- Road Length
- Road Geometry
- Adjacent Development
- Existing Speed Limit
- Injury Collision Rate
- Traffic Flow/Composition
- Mean/85th %ile speeds
Stage 2: Development of Implementation Program & Delivery Timetable
2.1 Divide each A & B route into link sections based upon identifiable changes in route characteristics (min 600m)
2.2 Prioritise routes based upon an assessment of the individual link section characteristics including length, casualty statistics and AADT traffic flows extracted from the North Wales Transport Model (used as part of the screening exercise only). (Individual section scores to be averaged to give a total score for each route).
2.3 Simulate prioritised routes into a deliverable four year works programme for review and implementation.
Stage 3: Members Approval / Annual Communication Update
3.1Prepare and submit an annual report to Members on:
- the implementation program (Years 1,2 ,3 & 4)
- the progress made to date (Years 2, 3 & 4)
Stage 4: Annual Review
4.1Undertake data gap analysis for each identified section
4.2 Collate new data where required
`4.3Access individual sections
4.4Determine speed management proposals
Stage 5: Recommendations & Member Communication
5.1 Report (outcomes of annual review - Years 1,2 ,3 & 4)
Stage 6: Implementation
6.1 Scheme design (Traffic Regulation Order if applicable)
6.2 Consultation (Informal/statutory depending on outcome proposals)
6.3 Formal decision (Delegated to Chief Officer)
6.4Implement works.
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