Speed limit at 20mph to cut accidents with pedestrians on phones

SPEED limits could be reduced to 20mph in a busy city centre to try and cut the number of accidents involving people knocked down while talking on their mobile phones.

Councillors in Hull are looking at cutting the limit on roads in the main shopping areas after a number of accidents.

Under the plans, a new 20mph zone would stretch south from Freetown Way to Castle Street and east from Ferensway to the River Hull, but at this stage does not include main roads such as Castle Street, Freetown Way or Ferensway.

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Motorists branded the move an attack on drivers and said pedestrians also had to take responsibility.

One commented on social media: “Driving at excessive speed for the conditions is one thing (no blanket speed limit please) but fines for those on foot not using the road responsibly as well please.

“So many pedestrians are head down texting, music selecting and talking.”

However, Hull City Council said they had a responsibility “to ensure people are kept safe”.

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The assistant head of highways, Graham Hall, said: “There is a mismatch of speed limits within the city centre; Albion Street is 30mph, Brook Street is 20mph, but if you are crossing Wilberforce Drive to get to Hull College, it is 30mph. You quite often see people crossing the road looking at texts or talking to someone completely oblivious as to what’s going on around them.

“If you are hit at 20mph you are likely to survive – at 30mph you are not.

“But (which roads are designated 20mph) is up for discussion.”

A final decision will be made after the report is discussed by a committee.

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Labour Cabinet member Coun Martin Mancey said people could write to him with their views, and added: “Pedestrians have a responsibility to use whatever measures are appropriate to help keep people safe.

“But equally we have a responsibility to use whatever measures are appropriate to help keep people safe. “The outcome of a collision between a pedestrian and a car travelling at 20mph is likely to be far less severe than if it were travelling at 30mph.”

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