Since 23 July 2024 we have been reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on eight roads across Manchester. The last of these roads will be complete at the end of July, and the roads will become enforceable at the new speed in August 2025.
The reasons and aims of this speed reduction are:
- Improved safety. Excess speed is a factor in one in three fatal road crashes. Studies have consistently shown that higher speeds increase the chances of being involved in a crash and the severity of injuries. By driving at lower speeds, drivers have more time to react to unexpected events, preventing crashes or lessening their impact.
- We know that certain roads, such as Kingsway, are major arterial routes for many people. However, we need to ensure that they are safe for all users. There are 7 schools and 5 parks within 200m of Kingsway showing that there are a large number of children in the area – our most vulnerable road users.
- Within the last 5 years, there have been 100 casualties from collisions on Kingsway, with 13 of these victims being under 18 years old. 72% of the Kingsway casualties have excessive speed as the key contributory factor.
- We believe that no driver, cyclist, or pedestrian error should result in a fatality or life changing injury, and every street made safer through schemes like this works towards Vision Zero - Greater Manchester’s ambition to eliminate road death and life changing injury by 2040, with a target to achieve a 50 per cent reduction by 2030. The intention is to increase safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all.
The eight roads affected by this change are:
- World Way – installation complete
- Middleton Road – installation complete
- Moseley Road – from Wilmslow Road to Kingsway - installation complete
- Wilbraham Road - Wilbraham Road from Princess Road to Wilmslow Road - installation complete
- Greengate – from Victoria Avenue East to its boundary with Oldham (North of M60 bridge) – installation complete
- Styal Road – Simonsway southwards to the Stockport boundary, approx. 100m south of the A555 Manchester Airport Relief Road - installation complete
- Kingsway - Mosley Road to a point 83m north of the Manchester/ Stockport Boundary - installation complete
- Mancunian Way - Downing Street to Fairfield Street. This site is paused until the 50mph section is approved and both sections will be implemented together.
We will update this page as plans progress.
Work will start before those dates to install new signage and road markings. Where roads will now be 30mph and lead onto existing 30mph roads, speed signs will be removed. They'll be removed as no 30mph speed signs are included on 30mph roads. The exception is if they are coming out of or into a different speed road or section. Where the new 30mph roads connect to existing 20, 40, or 50mph, signs on entry to the 30mph road will be replaced with 30mph signs to indicate the new speed limit.
Greater Manchester Police will enforce the new speed limit. There will also be temporary signs to remind people of the change for several months. These temporary signs will be placed at the start of the new 30mph road sections, in locations where previous speed limit signs have all been removed.
If you have any comments or questions regarding these changes, please contact us on SpeedReductionScheme@manchester.gov.uk