Frequently Asked Questions
- How many 20mph zones have/are being implemented in Edinburgh?
- How was my area chosen for a 20mph Zone?
- Why are features such as humps necessary and why are there so many - can a 20mph speed limit zone not be created using speed limit signs and markings on the road?
- Where can I see more details on the prioritisation process?
- The constant slowing down and speeding up of vehicles will increase pollution from car exhausts!
- Will the noise from vehicles bumping over the road humps be heard from inside my property?
- Will the vibration caused by vehicles bumping over the road humps damage my property?
- Will my car be damaged by driving over road humps?
- What height will the road humps be?
- Will car parking be lost outside my house?
- There have been no accidents in my street - why not just put humps in those streets with accidents?
- Why put a hump directly outside my house?
- The money should be spent on fixing the roads and not on road humps!
- What do Edinburgh residents living in existing 20mph zones think?
- I have heard some Councils are removing road humps- is there not a better way to get drivers to slow down?
- What do the different types of Traffic Calming Features referred to , look like?
How many 20mph zones have/are being implemented in Edinburgh?
This year (2007/08) funding will allow for the provision of three 20mph zones. The proposed construction of these zones follows the provision of 35 zones since 2005 throughput the city. The location of this year's proposed schemes and the majority of the completed residential zones can be viewed by clicking on the map on the right hand side of this page. In addition to these 20pmh zones the Scottish Executive has provided additional funding to the Council for spending on 20mph speed limits at schools. As a result almost all Edinburgh Primary Schools now have School 20mph restrictions on roads around school entrances and in their local area.
It is proposed to update this website to include all the 20mph zones and traffic-calmed areas throughout the city. Please check regularly.
How was my area chosen for a 20mph Zone?
To achieve the greatest road safety benefits accidents were chosen as the primary factor in the residential area assessment. Areas were primarily ranked based on the 5-year personal injury accident rate of the zone. Account was then taken for accidents involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists and locations such as schools, community centres and local shopping areas.
Why are features such as humps necessary and why are there so many - can a 20mph speed limit zone not be created using speed limit signs and markings on the road?
Experience has shown in Edinburgh, and in the rest of Scotland, that with signing alone drivers will not always adhere to 20mph speed limits. The Police also insist that zones should be self-enforcing, hence traffic calming features are used to ensure traffic speeds are reduced to 20mph. Scottish Executive regulations set out the number, size and spacing of the features.
Where can I see more details on the prioritisation process?
The report to the Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council of 13 January 2004 (and its referral to the Environmental and Quality Scrutiny Panel of the Council of 31 March 2004) gives full details of the prioritisation process. Both reports are available to view in PDF format and can be accessed on the City of Edinburgh Council's website or by clicking here. Note that this is a large document and may take some time to download.
The report to the Council on 29 April 2004 can be viewed by clicking here and its decision can be viewed here.
The constant slowing down and speeding up of vehicles will increase pollution from car exhausts!
‘Stop-start’ driving tends to occur where the humps or cushions are relatively widely spaced and rise to a height of 100mm over a short distance. The schemes which have been introduced since 2005/6 have features (local conditions permitting) at an optimum recommended spacing of around 60m to 70m apart. The humps also have a more gradual rise to 75mm. This not only keeps vehicle speeds low, but also encourages a smooth vehicle speed throughout the zone. This is beneficial to accident reduction and prevention as well as reducing noise and vehicle exhaust emissions.
Will the noise from vehicles bumping over the road humps be heard from inside my property?
Studies confirm that there is no noise increase where cars make up the main traffic flow, and the humps are constructed to the recommended specifications. In fact, some studies indicate that, as general speeds are lower and through traffic is discouraged from using a route, noise levels can be reduced. Where there is a regular flow of larger vehicles, cushions are installed. A speed cushion is a form of road hump, which only impedes part of the traffic lane. Cushions are generally located in pairs across the road and larger vehicles, such as buses, can straddle these humps reducing the interference to the vehicle. Narrow cushions are installed on routes used by the emergency services to further reduce the interference to emergency vehicles. Speed cushions are slightly less effective in reducing overall speeds than full width road humps.
Will the vibration caused by vehicles bumping over the road humps damage my property?
Studies have shown that greater levels of vibration are caused by heavy vehicles and that the vibration diminishes as it radiates from its source. Research suggests that narrow cushions cause the least vibration. Also, vibrations have been shown to increase with speed. The designer will consider the vehicle type using a road and avoid installing features at distances likely to cause damage to properties.
Will my car be damaged by driving over road humps?
Research carried out on behalf of the UK Government on all types of traffic calming measures has failed to find any concrete evidence of damage to vehicles when road humps are approached at the correct speed.
What height will the road humps be?
Road humps and cushions will be 75mm high. This height has been chosen to minimise the chances of vehicles grounding, minimise noise and pollution and still effectively achieve a speed reduction.
Will car parking be lost outside my house?
It is perfectly legal to park at the kerbside on top of road humps. Parking is only lost if build-outs or road narrowings are constructed or if waiting restrictions require to be placed beside cushions to ensure that buses or other HGVs can straddle the cushions effectively. Designers are sensitive to pressures on car parking when designing features for an area. (Check the local drawing for your area to see which type of features will be used).
There have been no accidents in my street - why not just put humps in those streets with accidents?
The decision is based on the accident rate within the complete zone and not on individual streets. In a designated zone, leaving streets without features is not permitted under 20mph regulations, and can lead to “rat running” along untreated streets.
Why put a hump directly outside my house?
Driveways are taken into account when siting features which are then spaced to ensure speed reduction is achieved while minimising noise and vibration. The locations of the humps are dictated by Scottish Executive regulations e.g. there must be a feature within 50m of the entry to a 20mph zone and another must follow within 100m. Although it may be possible to relocate a traffic calming feature a very small distance away from those shown on the drawing it will not be possible to leave one out altogether.
The money should be spent on fixing the roads and not on road humps!
The 20mph programme in residential areas and around schools is central to the Council's Local Transport and Road Safety Strategy and merits significant capital investment. To reflect the public’s priorities the largest proportion of the capital budget is used for roads, pavements and improved street lighting and the Council's recent budget has record amounts targeted at this. During the budget process an additional £12 million was added to the £15 million already available for roads and pavements maintenance - a total investment of £40 million over the next 3 years. The budget for street lighting has also been trebled to £4.5 million over the same period. This level of funding will bring about real and visible improvements to the city’s roads and footpaths. All the roads within the proposed 20mph zones have been inspected and remedial works on the defects noted will be carried out in conjunction with the construction of the traffic calming features. When the humps and other features are constructed additional local repairs will be carried out where necessary.
What do Edinburgh residents living in existing 20mph zones think?
An independent study concluded that there was clear support amongst the residents for the general principle of traffic calming and in particular the safety improvements offered. Recorded speed reduction results and early accident reduction figures from the recently installed zones in the city support this view.
I have heard some Councils are removing road humps- is there not a better way to get drivers to slow down?
One or two councils in England have removed some humps from busier roads but this has not been welcomed by all (pedestrian and cyclists groups in particular oppose the blanket removal of traffic calming). Other speed control methods, for example cameras, are more visually intrusive and, crucially, less effective at reducing accidents within residential zones.
What do the different types of Traffic Calming Features referred to , look like?
Click here to see the different types of traffic calming features.
