As part of the Cranbrook Road Safety Campaign, started by concerned residents, we are petitioning Devon County Council to reduce the speed limit on all roads in Cranbrook to 20mph. 

Cranbrook is a new town development which began in 2012, the number of residents is constantly increasing. The town has one main road running its length and many residential side roads, these roads have been developed as a 'no lines no signs' system and have a blanket 30mph limit.  There are two schools, a small shopping precinct, a community centre and a GP surgery. The long-awaited town centre is currently being built.

Why residents of Cranbrook want all roads to be 20mph: 

A child is 3 times more likely to die if hit by a car on a 30mph road than on a 20mph road. [20splenty.org]

Cranbrook is a young town, 30% of its population is under 16 [2021 Census]. Both schools are situated on the main road which does not benefit from any official road crossings or road safety markings to keep it clear during drop-off and pick-up times. Lowering the speed to 20mph will reduce the risk to young people from vehicles using those areas.  

Over the period of the 20mph limit implementation, there has been a reduction in the number of fatal, serious and slight injuries from road traffic collisions, equating to estimated cost savings of over £15 million per year. [BRITE Bristol 20mph limit evaluation report]

The side roads of Cranbrook are narrow, and many do not benefit from pavements, coupled with the fact that often households have more cars than parking spaces means many of the roads are congested with parking which can go up to and around/opposite junctions.  This makes manoeuvres for drivers challenging and increases the risks for vulnerable road users.  Lowering the speed limit to 20mph will reduce the seriousness of vehicle-on-vehicle accidents and make it safer for all.

Walking and cycling across Bristol has increased, both among children travelling to school and adults travelling to work. [BRITE Bristol 20mph limit evaluation report] 

The vision for Cranbrook was and is to develop a low carbon Eco-town, where residents have access to safe road systems where cycling and walking is a preferred option. 

A CO2 reduction of 26% and NOx reduction of 28% when 20 mph speed limits are introduced.

• 40,000 people die early per year from outdoor fumes, 23 times more than in crashes 
• 20mph limits massively cut toxic diesel emissions 
• 20mph halves perceived noise compared to 30mph 
• 20mph is equivalent to taking over half the petrol cars off the road  [20splenty.org]

Please sign our petition and join us in saying, “20’s Plenty for Cranbrook!”