New 20mph Speed Limits on Shirley High Street & other Southampton Maybush L-Test areas

New 20mph speed limits have attracted a lot of media & social-media discussion over the last few weeks, both locally here in Southampton and also in Wales. Everyone is clearly entitled to express their personal opinion on the subject. However, for the benefit of my core viewing audience, young drivers preparing for L-Test, it is important to be very clear on this point - The Highway Code Rule 124 states:

‘You MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle (see the speed limits table). A speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) generally applies to all roads with street lights (excluding motorways) unless signs show otherwise’.

Exceeding any speed limit during an L-Test is likely to fail that test.

Exceeding speed limits having recently passed an L-Test is likely to see your license revoked under the New Drivers Act.
(https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-end...)

Insurance ‘Black Boxes’ will also record transgressions of speed limits which may have implications for your insurance / premiums.


Southampton City Council details on new 20mph zones: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/news/a...

Southampton City Council, Leader’s Video 29 June ‘23:
   • Leader's Video 29 June '23  

The Highway Code H1, H2, H3: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highw...

Video detailing ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ and changes to The Highway Code emphasising vulnerable road users:    • Changes to The Highway Code: hierarchy of ...  

Barrister explains the law relating to cyclist speed:    • Cyclists "Caught" Speeding by Police!  

Speed’s squared relationship with stopping distance (and any resultant impact energy) the laws of physics illustrated simply:
   • Stopping Distance  

For HISTORICAL CONTEXT, the UK’s Think! Campaign gave ‘driver education’ messaging on Speed’s relationship with stopping distance in a number of it’s adverts:

The cars in this historic Think! campaign advert and the lack of ABS braking evident from the locked front wheels date this ad., but the underlying message is the same: a small increase in speed makes a significant impact on stopping distance:    • THINK slow down road safety advert  

In ‘It’s 30 for a reason’ messaging the physics met biology as pedestrian survival rates were presented:    • It's 30 for a reason road safety advert  

The FUTURE? Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 reduces Its 30mph ‘street light’ areas to 20mph from this week:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-6...

https://www.gov.wales/safer-20mph-let...

Prime Minister Sunak’s perspective:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...

https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-suna...

Barrister explains whether or not 20mph speed limits are enforceable (Spolier alert, they are!):    • Are 20mph speed limits enforceable?