A frustrated motoring campaigner claims a proposed district-wide 20mph scheme is designed to deter people from using their cars and punish sensible drivers.
Opposition councillors argue bringing in the lower limit for all new residential roads throughout Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay is a “no-brainer” and will make the streets safer for cars and pedestrians.
But Terry Hudson, from the Alliance of British Drivers, says there is no need for such a far-reaching change.
“This whole 20mph thing is just mission creep,” said Mr Hudson, who lives in Whitstable.
“Originally, it was just outside schools, now it’s town centres, residential areas and entire villages.
“It’s just to deter you from travelling by car, it’s nothing to do with safety.”
The idea, if progressed, would see 20mph limits set as the default on all new housing developments across the district.
When Wales introduced default 20mph limits in April 2024, casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads declined by 24% compared to the same period in 2023.
But Mr Hudson – who relies on his car to get around and has never been involved in an accident – believes the slower limits can often be more dangerous.
“You need a bit of speed just to keep your concentration up. 20mph is just too slow – the mind starts to wander at that kind of speed,” said the 78-year-old.
“Be cautious by all means, I just think more emphasis should be put on safe driving rather than the focus on speed.
“All they’ll be doing with this is punishing a bunch of sensible people who would have been driving carefully anyway.”
City councillors Andrew Harvey (Ind) and Robert Jones (Con) are proposing that 20mph limits are enforced on any new roads built in the district’s urban areas, with the aim “to reduce traffic speeds and encourage active travel”.
Cllr Harvey claims consultation with the public revealed a majority of residents are in favour of 20mph limits on the streets where they live.
“It just seems like a no-brainer,” he said.
“We already know from the statistics in Wales how having a default speed limit of 20mph has saved 100 lives within the first year.
“The standard argument against 20mph limits is the expense of changing all the signs and that people won’t get used to the new limit.
“But when we’re talking about creating brand-new roads, it just seems crazy not to bring in 20mph limits straight away to make the road easier to walk and drive.”
The proposal follows the introduction last year of a 20mph zone across much of Herne Bay town centre.
So controversial were the new limits that many signs were vandalised within days of being erected.
The new motion is set to be discussed by the city council’s Cabinet tonight (Thursday).
