Providing information on speed limits and dealing with
requests to introduce, increase or reduce speed
limits.
Suffolk County Council has provided speed limits for the vast
majority of villages in Suffolk after consultation with local
communities. Speed limits can be introduced on roads to reduce
speeds and to improve the quality of life for those living adjacent
to them. Requests for new or changes to existing speed limits will
be assessed against the Department for Transport's
Circular 01/2006 Setting Local Speed Limits, which has been
adopted by Suffolk County Council as our
guidelines. Enforcement of these speed limits is the
responsibility of Suffolk Police.
Suffolk County Council deals with requests to change speed
limits from parish, town
Parish and town councils or
district or borough councils. Individuals requesting changes to
a speed limit, need to seek support from the above before
submitting a request.
When asked to change a speed limit on a road, Suffolk County
Council will take the following into consideration:
- characteristics of the road, for example if it is straight,
narrow or flat, windy and so on
- costs of enforcement, especially where the speed limit is
regarded as unreasonable by drivers
- costs of engineering measures and their maintenance
- costs of implementation
- delays to traffic
- effect of the current and proposed speed limits on local
residents
- expected accidents savings
- facilities for vulnerable road users
- local amenities
- the local environment
- level of activity on the side of the road
- public anxiety about speed
- road’s accident history
- whether the request meets our criteria
Any requested change to a speed limit requires the support of
the Police to proceed. If a requested speed limit is fully
supported, a new speed limit order has to be made. This is a legal
process that takes approximately nine months to complete. If
objections are received to the order and cannot be resolved, the
proposal is referred to Suffolk County Council’s Rights of Way sub
Committee and Executive Committee for determination.
We are not permitted legally to place 30mph repeater signs on
roads in built up areas with a system of street lighting, as the
lighting in the area is evidence that a 30mph speed limit is in
place.
If you require information about the enforcement of existing
speed limits please
contact Suffolk Police.