FAQs
A safer environment for walking and cycling: Reducing speeds creates streets where people feel more comfortable to walk, wheel and cycle. This is especially important for vulnerable groups such as children, older people and people with disabilities. Safer streets can help children travel independently and support everyday active journeys.
Healthier, more active communities: By making walking and cycling feel safer, lower speed limits can help increase physical activity levels among both adults and children. This supports wider health outcomes, including improved mental wellbeing, reduced obesity, help to reduce risks or cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung cancer, and dementia and more opportunities for social connection.
Better air quality and lower emissions: Driving at lower, more consistent speeds reduces unnecessary acceleration and braking, which are two major contributors to pollution. Up to 75% of vehicle pollution comes from brake and tyre wear, not exhaust emissions, and smoother driving helps reduce this. Research shows that lower limits can cut carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions significantly, and cities implementing them have reported reductions of up to 18% in overall transport emissions.
Reduced noise pollution: A reduction from 30mph to 20mph typically decreases noise levels by around 3 decibels, perceived as halving background noise. This makes neighbourhoods more pleasant, especially in areas with high footfall or residential density.
Minimal impact on journey times: In urban environments, journey times are shaped mainly by junctions, crossings and parking, not speed limits. Shifting to lower speeds and 20mph has been shown to have negligible impact on travel time, including for buses. Lower speeds also smooth traffic flow by reducing acceleration and braking.
Lower fuel consumption and driving costs: Smoother driving at lower speeds can reduce fuel use by avoiding rapid acceleration. Real-world modelling suggests drivers can save up to 10p per mile, around 30% of urban fuel costs, when travelling more steadily. Data from areas where lower speeds and 20mph zones have been delivered has also shown that drivers within these zones pay lower insurance premiums, with data from Wales showing an annual insurance saving of around £50.
What are the benefits of the Safer Roads and Community 20s initiative?
Evidence consistently shows that lowering speeds significantly reduces collisions, injuries, and fatalities.
Cities such as Bristol, Edinburgh and 40 European areas have seen large reductions in road casualties after introducing speed management and 20mph limits.
Areas where 20mph and reduced speed limits have been introduced have experienced the following benefits:
Why 20mph?
A speed of 20 mph is widely acknowledged as the threshold above which vehicles present a substantially increased risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.
Lower speeds provide greater opportunities for drivers to react to unforeseen hazards. For instance, driving at 20mph instead of 30mph allows drivers to stop at half the distance (12m vs 23m).
Data from the roll out of 20mph speed restrictions in other locations has indicated that in the event of a collision there are 7-10 times fewer fatalities if drivers are travelling at 20mph compared to 30mph.
What threat do Gloucestershire’s current traffic issues pose to public health?
Gloucestershire continues to face several traffic related public health challenges, including some longstanding poor air quality at urban pinch points, persistently high numbers of road casualties, and barriers to active travel resulting from safety concerns. These issues contribute to higher rates of injury, respiratory illness, reduced physical activity, and widening health inequalities, particularly in areas that are heavily car dependent or lack safe, accessible alternatives such as walking, cycling and public transport.
How have the initial designs for Safer Roads and Community 20s been developed?
The initial designs have been developed by Road Safety Council Officers through workshops with Local Highway Managers (LHMs) who have helped to refine the proposals using their local knowledge and insights.
These insights include issues that have been raised to the LHMs by stakeholders and community members, as well as knowledge and experience of local pinch points and traffic issues, that may not have been identified through the collisions data.
How will the Safer Roads and Community 20s design proposals develop throughout the engagement and consultation processes?
The development of the design proposals will be an iterative process, shaped by ongoing engagement and consultation with both stakeholders and the local community. The Early Design and Engagement phase will seek to gather feedback from the community on the initial designs for their areas. All input received, whether online, at events, or via written correspondence, will be carefully considered and, where appropriate, incorporated within the updated designs.
The community will then have an opportunity to formally respond to the updated designs via the statutory Traffic Order process.
What are the benefits of the proposals for Cheltenham Town Centre Road Safety Scheme?
By introducing measures such as reduced speed limits and enhanced crossing points, the Cheltenham Town Centre Road Safety Scheme aims to significantly decrease both the frequency and severity of collisions in areas with high pedestrian and vehicle activity.
These interventions are particularly effective in locations where large numbers of people interact with traffic daily, as slower vehicle speeds give drivers more time to react and reduce the likelihood of fatal or serious injuries.
Improved crossings further protect vulnerable road users, making it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle, thereby supporting active travel and promoting better public health outcomes.
Collectively, these changes contribute to a safer, more welcoming town centre for residents, visitors, and local businesses.
Why were the eight junctions chosen for improvements?
The eight junctions were identified using collision data and observations showing where there is a higher safety risk.
They are places where large numbers of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists come together, making them more difficult to use safely.
Improvements are focused only on specific locations in the town centre where physical changes are needed to address known safety issues.
Will there be new street signs? Will it add clutter to streets?
A balance of street signs and road markings is required so that speed limits and changes are clear and can be properly enforced.
Signs and road markings help make sure changes are easy to understand for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
As part of the project, existing signs that are no longer needed will be reviewed and removed to avoid unnecessary clutter.
How will the Town Centre Road Safety Scheme affect journey times in Cheltenham?
The proposals are focused on improving safety while maintaining movement across the town and are not expected to significantly affect journey times.
What disruption should I expect during the works to change junctions?
If the proposals are taken forward to delivery, disruption will be kept to a minimum. Any works will be carefully planned to reduce inconvenience for residents, businesses and people travelling through the area.
Changes at junctions will be carried out in stages, with traffic management in place to keep roads open where possible.
Advance notice and updates will be shared so people know what to expect and can plan ahead.
Have you considered people with mobility issues or disabilities?
The proposals consider how different people use the town centre, including those with mobility issues or disabilities.
Some changes are intended to improve how crossings operate in busy areas, which will help people who need more time or space to cross the road.
The proposals are not intended to restrict access for people who rely on vehicles, including those with mobility needs.
How is active travel being supported through these projects?
The projects look to improve safety for active travellers by reducing speeds across the town and surrounding villages. These speed reductions are complementary to other recent and emerging active travel schemes such as the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, and wider improvements to support walking and cycling.
Safer, more consistent speeds and improved crossing facilities can support walking and cycling for everyday journeys, contribute to better public health outcomes, and help create a more attractive, accessible and welcoming town for residents, visitors and local businesses.
How are the schemes being funded?
The Safer Roads and Community 20s initiative is being funded using public health funding (£2 million), which has been secured to support a wide range of road safety investment by the council. A further £619,000 of road safety capital investment is allocated to the accident remedial programme in the council’s 2026/27 budget towards this initiative. Together this is anticipated to cover investment required for the first 2 years delivery of the safer roads and communities 20s programme.
The Town Centre Road Safety scheme is being funded through road safety capital investment.
How will my feedback be used?
Feedback gathered through this engagement will be reviewed alongside technical evidence and stakeholder input.
Your feedback will help inform how the proposals are further developed.
Are you accepting feedback via email?
Feedback will not be accepted by e-mail; instead, please use the virtual survey or interactive map. If you are unable to provide feedback through these options, you may fill out a hard copy survey, available at the Gloucestershire County Council municipal offices in Cheltenham and at our in-person events. Accepting feedback only through these channels allows us to process and analyse responses collectively, ensuring that all results accurately reflect the input received.