20's Plenty Useful resources

New guidance from the Department for Transport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Department of Communities and Local Government), the 'Manual for Streets' makes the case for 20mph limits for all streets where people should have priority over traffic. The Manual for Streets attempts to redress the balance in urban design, restoring 'place' over 'traffic'. While it is aimed primarily at lightly trafficked roads in new developments, it is also intended to guide highway authorities in reworking existing streets. It's a good introduction to essential principles, good practice and design, as well as issues your local authority has to address in managing streets.

The updated guidance to local authorities on Setting Local Speed limits (circular 1/06) is less helpful, but still states that 'local speed limits of 20 mph are, however, encouraged in situations where there is a particular risk to vulnerable road users' (paragraph 68). This is an improvement on the consultation draft. (See our response to the 2005 consultation with further arguments for a default 20mph limit, pp7-8 and pp16-18 of the full response.)

The Department for Transport also publishes Traffic Advisory Leaflets, technical guidance to highway engineers, including on traffic calming.

A February 2000 Panorama programme on speed provides a compelling introduction to the origins of the 20's Plenty campaign. It shows the impact of road death and why vehicle design is critical to creating civilised streets.

See also our links to useful reference sites.