BRISTOL UK – Residents of Hotwells have launched a petition, “20 is Plenty”, calling on Bristol City Council to implement a 20mph speed limit on Hotwell Rd. The campaign follows a frightening recent incident when a driver lost control of their car and the vehicle mounted the pavement, crashing into a building on Hotwells Rd opposite the Rassasy restaurant. While no one was injured, the crash occurred during the afternoon school run and the outcome could so easily have been catastrophic.
A Community Under Threat
Hotwell Rd serves as a major artery into the city, but is also a densely populated neighbourhood. The “20 is Plenty” campaign highlights 4 reasons why the current 30mph limit is no longer fit for purpose:
- Safety for All Generations: Home to many retired households and situated on the walking route for children to Hotwells Primary School, a 20mph limit would significantly reduce the severity of any collisions. Every single 1mph above 20mph increases the chance of a fatality by 15% and a vehicle’s stopping distance is halved from 23 meters to just 12 meters when traveling at 20mph instead of 30mph.
- Improved Air Quality: Hotwells remains one of the areas most affected by poor air quality in Bristol. Consistent, lower speeds reduce the “stop-start” driving patterns that contribute to higher emissions.
- A “City of Walking”: Pedestrians and cyclists shouldn’t have to “compete” with 3 lanes of one-way traffic.
- City-Wide Consistency: With many residential streets across Bristol already successfully transitioned to 20mph, Hotwell Rd is a dangerous outlier that needs to “slow down”.
Local campaigner Jenny Frayn of Dowry Square – “Last month’s crash was a final warning. Hotwell Rd isn’t just a commuter route, it’s a place where people live, shop and go to school. We shouldn’t have to wait for a fatality before the Council recognises that 30mph is too fast for a high-risk residential area. As part of the introduction of the 24-hour bus lane planned for Hotwell Rd, the council should reduce the speed limit to 20mph.”
Former Councillor and Hotwells Primary School parent Katy Grant – “The pavements of Hotwell Rd are full of people, waiting for buses, taking children to school, walking to the Harbour. There are pubs, churches, students, and older people. This community has been asking for a reduction to 20mph for many years. It’s time we took pedestrian and cyclist safety more seriously, as well as reduce air pollution by imposing a slower speed limit.”
Councillor and Chair of Hotwells Primary School PTA Sibusiso Tshabalala – “As a resident, I cannot accept a situation where children are placed at risk simply to reach their classrooms. Every day, I see families navigating fast, heavy traffic along Hotwell Rd. That is not unavoidable, it is the result of choices we can change.
I am clear that a 20mph speed limit is a highly impactful and necessary step to prevent serious harm. We have already witnessed a vehicle crash into a building on this stretch. Next time, we may not be so fortunate. Furthermore, the evidence clearly shows that the greatest safety benefits of 20mph limits are felt exactly on busier, faster residential main roads like ours.
Opponents often cite traffic delays, but the reality is that a 20mph limit does not have a significant impact on urban journey times, instead, it actually improves journey reliability. Slowing down will also directly benefit our community’s health by reducing the harsh ‘stop-start’ driving patterns that worsen local air quality and emissions.
The evidence is there. The support is there. Now the decision must follow.”
The Demand – The petition calls on Bristol City Council to recognise Hotwell Rd as a high-risk zone and implement a 20mph speed limit to protect residents, patrons of local pubs, school children and visitors.
Petition link below
www.change.org/p/20-is-plenty-make-hotwell-road-a-20-mph-zone