SPEED AND SPEED LIMITS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Lately speed limit signs which indicate 30 km/h as the highest permissible speed have become very much in demand by the public in residential areas. Inhabitants assume that many of the traffic problems are connected with speed and that these problems will be solved if the speed limit is reduced. The professional traffic engineer on the other hand is sceptical as to whether reduced speed limit signs will result in reduced driving speed. This scepticism is partly based on the fact that the driving speed on roads in residential areas seldom exceeds 30-35 km/h, and partly that respect for reduced speed limit signs is low due to infrequent police surveillance. A solution to this problem has therefore been sought in physical obstacles placed on the road surface. Such measures have on the other had been met with a sceptical attitude from the residents and highway authorities responsible for road maintenance. /TRRL/