Petition - To reduce the speed limit on Longwood Road, Owslebury, SO21 1LL to 30 mph

Thank you for your petition.

The County Council sets speed limits based on criteria from the Department for Transport, which considers existing average speeds and safety records. The guidelines emphasize that speed limits should be clear and naturally adhered to, reflecting the road’s layout and conditions. Effective speed limits depend on drivers’ reactions to various factors, especially those that visually encourage appropriate speeds and awareness of the environment.

Simply lowering a speed limit won’t necessarily slow traffic unless the environment supports the new limit and drivers respect it. Setting a speed limit too low without driver compliance offers no benefit to the local community. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists judge their actions based on perceived vehicle speeds and the posted limits. In Hampshire, the Police carry out speed enforcement and deal with issues like inappropriate or anti-social driving. You can contact them via the 101 non-emergency number or their website.

Due to high demand for road safety measures, the County Council prioritizes locations with recurring injury collisions, using data from the Police to plan safety schemes through the Casualty Reduction Team. The casualty collision history has been considered and between Main Road and Belmore Lane there is one reported casualty in 5 years. The location would be a low priority for a speed limit and no further action is planned at the present time.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Lulu Bowerman
Executive Member for Highways and Waste