Sandgate 20mph Zone: 6 Months On
The 6 month review of traffic speeds on Sandgate High Street following the introduction of the 20mph zone there has shown a marked reduction on traffic speeds in the zone.
Vehicle telematics data from Kent Highways shows speeds have reduced on average by around 1-2 mph, which represents up to an 8% reduction in average speeds.
The 20mph zone has been backed up by volunteer Sandgate Speedwatch sessions in the zone (as well as ongoing in roads around Sandgate) to reinforce understanding of the limit through the village.
Location and Direction | Mean Average Speed June 2024 (mph) | Mean Average Speed June-July 2026 (mph) |
High Street East (Direction Folkestone) | 21.10 | 19.70 |
High Street East (Direction Hythe) | 20.40 | 19.78 |
High Street West (Direction Folkestone) | 23.80 | 21.85 |
High Street West (Direction Hythe) | 24.00 | 22.20 |
Local Councillor Tim Prater is pleased with the results. He said:
“People have asked through the last 6 months if there has been an impact on traffic speeds - its great to have evidence of that reduction!
"There is absolutely more to do, and we're working on that. There needs to be a clear ”repeater" sign in the middle of the village, and KCC have that on our Highways Plan now. Additionally we will continue to keep improving the visibility of the 20 sign as you approach from Hythe through ongoing hedge cutting (to reinforce the 20 roundel on the floor as you enter the zone) and hope our volunteer Speedwatch team can continue in their sessions to remind motorists of the limit, and make them aware of their own speed."
The World Health Organisation suggest every 1% increase in mean speed produces a 4% increase in the fatal crash risk and a 3% increase in the serious crash risk. As speeds have decreased by up to 8%, that suggests a reduction in fatal crash risk of around 30%, and in the serious crash risk by 20%.
At 22mph you have just a little more time to react to events in front of you. At 22mph anything you hit has got a markedly better chance of survival than at 24mph. The destructive energy of the vehicle by roughly 19% higher at 24mph than it is at 22mph. That increases the physical force exerted on a human body during impact.