The Psychology of 20 Zones: and why they should be

20mph zones have proliferated around the UK, and that has to be a good thing right? Hmmmm, I'm not so sure.

Pay attention, this is the non-science bit. On the bike 20mph is no bother on the flat, and in a few places around here it's a natural cruising speed, including one street 2 minutes from where I live. 20mph zones tend to be in heavily residential areas, and in heavily residential areas there are usually schools. And so it is with this street, with parked cars on either side, speed cushions, and three schools. Every night, coming home from work, I roll down at 20mph. Every night I get overtaken. Every. Single. Night.

You see 20mph zones are, officially, not enforced by the police in Edinburgh. Basically this means no one will find themselves done for breaking the limit in a 20 zone. Given the proliferation what this means is that a huge number of drivers will naturally and constantly break the speed limit. Going a bit over, hell even going a lot over, is pretty standard anyway, but make it officially sanctioned and what does that do to the mentality of the driver? Quite simply it reinforces that there is nothing wrong with doing it. Simple as that.

Like giving in to a kid who throws tantrums or a dog that begs at the table, the result is the same. That action becomes accepted. And any later attempt to rein in that action becomes 'unfair'. So quite simply if you're going to do fuck all about enforcing 20mph zones you're simple endorsing the actions of the majority and make any future attempts to ameliorate the situation virtually impossible.

That, that is why I just can't see the point any more in 20mph zones.