CHESHIRE West and Chester Council’s scheme to slow down speeding drivers has been hailed a success after the number of vehicle collisions fell by nearly two thirds.

The four-year programme to increase the number of 20mph speed limits on residential roads and outside schools has achieved impressive results to make communities safer.

An analysis of the locations implemented in the first year of the programme has revealed a 65 per cent reduction in vehicle collisions from 40 to 14.

There has also been a 40 per cent reduction in collisions where someone is killed or seriously injured (from five incidents down to three) and a 69 per cent reduction in collisions causing slight injuries (from 35 down to 11).

Across the locations, 15 per cent fewer vehicles are now travelling above 25mph and 17 per cent fewer vehicles are travelling above 30mph.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “In January 2016, the Council agreed to introduce 20mph speed limited on suitable residential roads and around schools to deliver significant benefits including a reduction in road traffic collisions and to encourage more people to walk and cycle.

“We are now in the middle of our four-year programme. We have undertaken a detailed evaluation of the 20mph schemes delivered in the first year and a report containing the results was presented to the council’s scrutiny committee earlier this month.

"The results show our 20mph schemes are making a difference in our communities.

“Further analysis and data collecting will now continue, as well as awareness campaigns to change behaviour over time to ensure the new speed limits become firmly embedded in communities.

“Over 50 per cent of our goal of 128 locations is now complete and in the final fourth year we will assess 68 more locations for suitability.”

Locations that have seen significant success in vehicle speed reductions are Hoole in Chester and Stanney Grange in Ellesmere Port.