Application for 20mph signage – Update
As the first part of progressing the Parish Council’s application for 20mph signage through the primary roads through both villages, the Council paid for speed surveys at nine key points.
Published: 16 February 2024
| Location | Ave Speed (mph) | 85%ile speed (mph) | Total weekly flow (all directions) |
| 1.Barden Road (East) | 25.1 | 30.6 | 5166 |
| 2. Barden Road/Kirk Lane (West) | 26.8 | 32.1 | 6142 |
| 3. Brackenley Lane | 23.7 | 28.6 | 5879 |
| 4. Skipton Road (by West Lane) | 21.6 | 26.3 | 27734 |
| 5. Kirk Lane | 23.9 | 29.5 | 7352 |
| 6. Main Street | 21.8 | 26.1 | 8960 |
| 7. Pasture Road | 14.9 | 19.2 | 2391 |
| 8. Shires Lane | 22.9 | 28.3 | 6906 |
| 9. Skipton Rd (by Dalacres Drive) | 26.2 | 30.4 | 19027 |
As the first part of progressing the Parish Council’s application for 20mph signage through the primary roads through both villages, the Council paid for speed surveys at nine key points. The results are as above. The 85%ile speed is according to Road Safety GB – ‘The 85 percentile can be used to determine speed limits for roads. This is based on the theory that most drivers are reasonable and do not want to get into an accident, but do want to get to their destination as quickly as possible. Therefore a speed at which 85% of people drive is figured to be the highest safe speed for that road.’
However the use of this figure to calculate speed limits is heavily criticised on the internet, and according to the relevant legislation – ‘DfT 01 13 Para 35 Setting Local Speed Limits‘ says – ‘Mean Speed and 85th percentile speed (the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles are travelling) are the most commonly used measures of actual traffic speed. Traffic authorities should continue to routinely collect and assess both, but mean speeds should be used as the basis of determining local speed limits.‘
The Parish Council have been advised that Highways Area5 have severe resource restraints at present, however the Council is also advised that the analysis of the results is ongoing and it is anticipated that this will be completed by the end of February. Following that, options will be identified and shared with North Yorkshire Councillor David Noland and the Parish Council and the aim is to do that just after Easter.