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Oxfordshire transport chief criticises police over enforcement of 20mph speed limits
Overview
Oxfordshire County Council's transport chief, Gareth Epps, has called on Thames Valley Police to improve its enforcement of 20mph speed limits introduced across 280 towns, villages, and parishes since 2022. Epps highlighted a significant disparity in fines compared to other regions like Cornwall. In response, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber stated that the force enforces limits based on significant need and risk, while noting that such roads should ideally be self-enforcing.
Key points
- Oxfordshire County Council has introduced 20mph speed limits in 280 towns, villages, and parishes since 2022.
- Transport chief Gareth Epps criticised Thames Valley Police (TVP) for insufficient enforcement, stating they issued about 200 tickets in a year compared to 11,000 in Cornwall.
- TVP stated that its enforcement is intelligence-led, focusing on locations with the greatest risk of death or serious injury.
- Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber defended the force's approach, noting that 20mph roads should ideally be self-enforcing with traffic calming measures.