20mph speed limit area

20mph speed limit area

Egham Hythe 20mph speed limit proposals

Improving road safety is one of the key objectives of the Local Street Improvements programme. To achieve this in Egham Hythe, 20mph speed limits are proposed along roads where considered appropriate. These roads are shown in the plan provided below. 

Most of the roads in the area are residential roads and the existing average speeds and nature of these roads indicate that introducing a 20mph speed limit would be appropriate. 

Thorpe Road and Thorpe Lea Road are the main roads in the zone that carry the most traffic. It is proposed that the speed limit is reduced to 20mph between the A308/Thorpe Road roundabout and just west of Medlake Road. This section is an urban environment with a history of collisions resulting in injury (21 occurred between 2018 and 2023), experiences high footfall, and includes two schools, several areas of local shops and community facilities and access points to greenspace. Consequently, there is expected to be significant benefits of implementing a 20mph speed limit. Surveys carried out indicate that the existing average speeds range along this stretch from 24mph at the north-eastern end to 29mph at the south-western end. Across the south-western section three crossings are proposed on raised tables (please see the Area 2 proposals for more information) which would provide a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists to cross as well as act as traffic calming features, which would support the implementation of a 20mph speed limit. West of Medlake Road it is proposed to retain the existing 30mph speed limit. 

Benefits of a 20mph speed limit

Between 2018 and 2023 in the Egham Hythe area there were 31 collisions resulting in injury. Surrey generally also has among the highest number of pedestrian and cyclist road casualties of any local authority and a high proportion of these occur on roads with a 30mph speed limit. Recent data has shown that 81% of the pedestrian casualties in Surrey take place on roads with a 30mph speed limit, with nearly all involving collision with a motor vehicle. Similarly, 69% of cycling casualties take place on 30mph speed limit roads, with 79% of these resulting from collisions with a motor vehicle.

Lower speed limits are expected to provide a range of benefits locally including:

• Reduced risk and severity of collisions.
• Increasing the confidence of and making it easier and more pleasant for residents to walk, wheel or cycle. This can contribute positively to local shops and businesses with people shopping and using facilities more locally.
• Reduced carbon emissions, air and noise pollution. 
• Improved health and wellbeing of Surrey residents.

Please provide your feedback on the proposals via our survey.