Every residential street in Cornwall could soon have a 20mph speed limit.
New signs and a campaign to publicise the changes are expected to cost £3.8 million as Cornwall becomes the latest area to introduce stricter speed limits following a pilot scheme.
Casualty figures fell by 23 per cent in Bath when a 20mph limit was tested. Introducing the limit in residential areas led to speeds on faster roads being cut by more than 4mph in Bristol and 7mph in Portsmouth.
Cornwall Conservatives had pledged to bring in lower speed limits before winning the 2021 council elections.
Following trial 20mph schemes in Falmouth, Penryn and Camelford, a report on the project will be presented to council officials next week. A final decision is expected in March.
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The council said the World Health Organisation and the United Nations backed 20mph as the right limit where people and motor vehicles mix. Research has found that a 1mph reduction in speeds on urban roads leads to 6 per cent fewer casualties.
Figures show that 39 people died in crashes in Cornwall between 2017 and 2021 where speed was cited as a contributory factor. Four were pedestrians.
In total there were 980 collisions where speed was a contributing factor, resulting in 1,483 casualties. Of these, 275 resulted in serious injuries — including seven pedestrians and seven cyclists — all in 30mph zones.
The 20mph limits would be introduced in five phases, ending by 2026. This year’s would include Truro, with St Ives and Newquay following in 2024.
“Urban areas with high pedestrian and cyclist movements will be of higher priority,” the council said.
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“There is a strong link between traffic speed and the number of collisions and severity of injuries. Chances of survival struck at 20mph are much greater than 30mph. Residential roads and built-up areas should be 20mph.
“Speed limits higher than 30mph will not qualify for 20mph.”
