20mph Limits and Zones

All requests for a new 20mph scheme must be submitted by the town or parish council or local ward member. We cannot accept applications from residents. Find your local town or parish council or county councillor.

We encourage town and parish councils and local ward members to seek advice from the road safety team before applying. Please email roadsafety@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

20mph limits are areas where the speed limit has been reduced to 20mph, but there are no physical measures to reduce vehicle speeds within the area. In contrast, 20mph zones use traffic calming measures to make the zones self-enforcing.

There must be significant community support before we consider implementing a 20mph scheme. In assessing community support there is a minimum expectation that the town or parish council and local ward member agree with the proposals and there is evidence of broad community consensus e.g. through a community survey. We will then embark on a formal public consultation as part of the Traffic Regulation Order process How a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is made - Dorset Council

Current research shows no material effect on local air quality to date. We believe the lower speed limits may encourage more people to choose active ways to travel and there will be fewer polluting cars on the roads.

Fuel consumption is mainly influenced by the way we drive – driving at a consistent speed is better than stopping and starting. A default 20mph limit and a smooth driving style can help avoid unnecessary speeding up and slowing down, saving fuel. Accelerating up to 30mph can take twice as much energy as speeding up to 20mph.

A 20mph speed limit would be enforced in the same way as the current 30mph speed limits.  Dorset Police will not be allocating any additional resources but as with all speed limits, they can take action where there is evidence of persistent speeding. 

We encourage every driver to comply with the 20mph limit, so that they reduce the risk of being involved in a road traffic collision.

Dorset Police makes use of Community Speed Watch volunteers to monitor speeds and we would encourage local people to find out more about becoming a volunteer Community Speed Watch - Dorset Road Safe Partnership.

Accelerating up to a reduced speed of 20mph, and driving at a more consistent speed, should result in lower tyre and brake abrasion and this can also save on your fuel costs.

On a clear stretch of road, travelling at 20mph will obviously take longer than travelling at a higher speed. However, research indicates that at slower speeds, vehicles flow more smoothly through junctions. As such, within an urban environment, 20mph may help to improve traffic flow.

All speed limits (including 20mph) contain an exemption for vehicles on emergency calls. Emergency service vehicles using blue lights can travel as quickly as they think is safe to do so, based on road conditions (such as how busy it is and the size of the road).

The council is awarded a Local Transport Plan (LTP) capital grant annually from the Department for Transport.  A proportion of the LTP grant (not Council Tax) is used to deliver 20mph schemes.

Department for Transport funding provided to local councils can only be spent on its defined purpose. Dorset Council cannot spend 20mph funding on highway maintenance issues or any other problems.

This link will provide you with an outline about How a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is made - Dorset Council.

We take public consultations seriously and use them to try to understand what matters most to our residents.

Consultations unlike referendums are not a direct vote on a proposal. The findings of public consultations will be considered alongside other data and evidence to enable the delegated authority to make their decision.  If a strong case is made, we may consider adding or removing roads from the scheme or they may decide to go ahead as proposed or not at all.