Item 11 - Appendix 3
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2025
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 21 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Assessment No 1274 Owner liam.greene Resource Transformation Service Education, Learning & Attainment FirstName Surname Job Title Head Officer Liam Greene Roads and Transportation Manager Members Gail MacFarlane - Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood Raymond Walsh - Roads Network Coordinator (Please note: the word 'policy' is used as shorthand for strategy policy function or financial decision) Policy Title Implementation of 20mph Street Strategy The aim, objective, purpose and intended out come of policy Implement 20mph limit strategy across the whole of West Dunbartonshire Service/Partners/Stakeholders/service users involved in the development and/or implementation of policy. Scottish Government Elected Members Transport Scotland Does the proposals involve the procurement of any goods or services? No If yes please confirm that you have contacted our procurement services to discuss your requirements. No SCREENING You must indicate if there is any relevance to the four areas Duty to eliminate discrimination (E), advance equal opportunities (A) or foster good relations (F) Yes Relevance to Human Rights (HR) Yes Relevance to Health Impacts (H) Yes Relevance to Social Economic Impacts (SE) Yes Who will be affected by this policy? All local residents and traffic that use the local road network Who will be/has been involved in the consultation process? Discussions with Scottish Government and Transport Scotland ITEM 11 - APPENDIX 3
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Please outline any particular need/barriers which equality groups may have in relation to this policy list evidence you are using to support this and whether there is any negative impact on particular groups. Specific group to consider Needs Evidence Impact Age The Equality Act 2010 requires local authorities (amongst others) to provide equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Of particular relevance to 20mph limits are children, older persons, those with disabilities, and women, who are more likely to be dependent on walking rather than car use, or seen as more vulnerable road users. Children are more likley to be seriously injured/killed in a collision. This risk is significantly reduced when speeds are reduced to 20mph or below A 20mph limit will provide a safer environment for children Surveys have shown that children are more likely to cycle/walk locally more after the introduction of 20mph limits benefits of 20mph limits to be focused around safety, including safer environments , safer crossing facilities for pedestrians (particularly for older people and those with disabilities)
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Disability The Equality Act 2010 requires local authorities (amongst others) to provide equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Of particular relevance to 20mph limits are children, older persons, those with disabilities, and women, who are more likely to be dependent on walking rather than car use, or seen as more vulnerable road users. Implementing 20mph limits prevents road injury and disability. It helps the less able to get about. 20mph limits increase accessibility and opportunities for the most vulnerable and leads to fairer, healthier more social lives. Equality and inclusivity improves, raising quality for everyone including carers and those with dependent family Benefits of 20mph limits to be focused around safety, including safer environments , safer crossing facilities for pedestrians (particularly for older people and those with disabilities) Slower speeds improve access, especially for those with restricted mobility, vision, hearing or mental health. The ability to get around safely and affordably increases opportunities for work and friendship. With low accessibility, people can become lonely. Social isolation has been linked to poor mental and physical health and mortality. Residents of heavy traffic areas know fewer neighbours than in light traffic streets. With few, slow car movements people enjoy the street scene. They chat. It is quieter and not so dangerous or polluted. Inclusivity and social cohesion increase when traffic slows down. Gender Reassign Marriage & Civil Partnership Pregnancy & Maternity Important to check how this Protected characteristic is affected and how it crosscuts In effect will cross cut with sex In terms of impacts these will likely be similar on those for women under 'sex' Race We need to assess potential differential impacts, including how these interact with economic and social factors Most BME groups have less access to cars than most white ethnic groups Positive Religion and Belief Sex We need to assess potential differential impacts, including how these interact with economic and social factors Women have less access to cars than men. Women are the majority of care givers, for example of children, relatives and friends. They are more likely to be using pushing chairs for example. Positive especially for women Sexual Orientation
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Human Rights Human Rights Act/European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)Article 8 UNCRC especially in terms of the 'Protection' and the 'best interests' of children 20mph limits will deliver changes in traffic speed and casualty rates, influence travel behaviour, Surveys have shown that children are more likely to cycle/walk locally more after the introduction of 20mph limits benefits of 20mph limits to be focused around safety, including safer environments around schools, safer crossing facilities for pedestrians (particularly for older people and those with disabilities) 20mph schemes have the potential to deliver a wide range of benefits, and in the longer term, health, environmental and Positive both in terms of the ECHR and UNCRC
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Health Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, local authorities have public health responsibilities; of relevance to 20mph limits given the strong links between road safety and public health. 20mph limits will deliver changes in traffic speed and casualty rates, influence travel behaviour, and lead to associated environmental, health, community and economic benefits The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2017) recommends 20mph limits as best practice in residential areas, and states that ‘a safe speed on roads with possible conflicts between cars and pedestrians, cyclists or other vulnerable road users is 30kmh/20mph 20 mph limits cut the number and severity of road fatalities and injuries. Some collisions are avoided or impact speed is less, reducing the harm done by a crash. Surveys have shown that people are more likely to cycle/walk locally more after the introduction of 20mph limits benefits of 20mph limits to be focused around safety, including safer environments around schools, safer crossing facilities for pedestrians (particularly for older people and those with disabilities) 20mph schemes have the potential to deliver a wide range of benefits, and in the longer term, health, environmental and community benefits could be greater than the more obvious road safety benefits Existing research suggests that 20mph limits (signed only) have the potential to improve health and wellbeing and reduce pressure on the NHS, as a result of an overall increase in use of active travel modes, and an overall reduction in injuries from vehicle collisions as a result of a reduction in speed Health promoting activities like walking, cycling and being outdoors are encouraged as speeds reduce. This builds a positive spiral of increased activity bringing reduced illness from diseases associated with obesity, heart disease and stress. Health inequalities in life expectancy are reduced by 20 mph limits as poorer people (especially boys) are more often road victims.
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Social & Economic Impact Safer and more attractive local environments were expected to encourage more social interaction Scottish Consumer Duty: We have screened for relevance to the Duty and concluded that there nothing that might be relevant that it is not already addressed in this impact assessment. The majority of people agree that the 20mph speed limit is beneficial for residents. However, child safety still appears to be a concern This proposal will help the socio-economically disadvantaged as there are more likely to be the victims of road traffic accidents. Benefits of 20mph limits to be focused around safety, including safer environments around schools, safer crossing facilities for pedestrians (particularly for older people and those with disabilities) Creates and environment where streets feel safer and is a more desirable place to live Cross Cutting Important to consider cross cutting effects Evidence shows benefits for various groups Available evidence have shown that implementation of 20 mph limits has minimal effect on journey Crossing cutting positive benefits
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Actions
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Policy has a negative impact on an equality group,but is still to be implemented, please provide justification for this. Positive impact - Opportunities to improve local environment and road safety Will the impact of the policy be monitored and reported on an ongoing bases? Accident and crash data can be monitored and reported on Q7 What is you recommendation for this policy? Intoduce Please provide a meaningful summary of how you have reached the recommendation EIA 1274: The implementation of 20mph limits has some potential positive impacts for children and young people, disabled people and women, and those ethnic groups who have less access to cars, especially. 20 mph may also support health and well being by encouraging more active travel and improving road safety and reducing casualty rates.