Safe Speeds
As part of the wider Safe System Approach adopted in Jersey, the focus on safe speeds is crucial to ensuring the safety of all road users. The Safe System Approach recognises that while human errors are inevitable, the consequences of these errors should not be fatal or result in serious injury.
In Jersey, speed limits are carefully set and enforced to reflect the safety of our road infrastructure and the diverse needs of our road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. By adhering to appropriate speed limits, we can significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of road collisions.
Setting Appropriate Speed Limits
Managing traffic speeds will help make Jersey’s roads safer and more inclusive for everyone, particularly vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Encouraging safer speeds will be especially important around schools, residential areas, and popular tourist destinations.
Speed limits will be set based on a clear framework designed to ensure consistency and fairness across the Island. A review of all speed limits is currently underway to align them with this framework. Details are outlined below:
40MPH
The all-Island maximum speed limit is 40mph, or 30mph for vehicles over 3.5T or towing a trailer.
30MPH
All roads in the urban / built up area should be subject to a 30mph speed limit, with extensions into rural areas where appropriate.
20MPH - Village
Village Centres, typically where people might be walking between a church, a Parish Hall, a shop or a pub, for example, should be 20mph.
20MPH - Residential Areas
Residential areas that are not “through routes”, where pedestrian and cycle movements are likely to be high should be 20mph.
20MPH - Tourist Bays
Tourist bays where pedestrian and cycle movements are likely to be high should be 20mph.
20MPH - School Zones
Part-time 20mph zones may be signed around schools, at times when children are present
15MPH - Green Lanes
Green Lanes have a 15mph speed limit. Motorised vehicles should give priority to pedestrians, cyclists, and horses at all times.
Please note that where the framework indicates a 40 or 30mph speed limit, a lower speed limit may be applied for road safety reasons.
Enforcement
The States of Jersey Police actively enforce speed limits using manual speed detection equipment. These checks are often conducted in areas with a high record of crashes attributed to speeding. Additionally, other locations may be monitored in response to community complaints about speeding vehicles.
To promote speed awareness, portable speed indicator devices are also deployed around the Island. These devices display the speed of approaching vehicles, along with a visual prompt: a sad face for speeds exceeding the limit and a happy face for compliant speeds. Their purpose is to encourage motorists to adhere to speed limits and foster safer driving habits.
Penalties for Speeding
If you are caught speeding, the consequences will depend on the severity of the offense:
- Minor Breaches: You may be required to attend a parish hall enquiry
- Serious Violations: You could be summoned to the Magistrate’s Court.
If found guilty, penalties can include:
- Fines: The amount typically reflects how much over the limit you were driving.
- Driving Licence Penalties: Your licence may be endorsed, which could increase your insurance rates, and you may also face a driving ban.
Through consistent enforcement and clear penalties, the States of Jersey Police aim to ensure compliance with speed limits and enhance road safety across the Island.
Public Awareness
Raising awareness targeted at all road users about the importance of maintaining safe speeds is a critical component of the Safe System Approach.
Speed Studies
1mph change in speed = 5% change in collision rate
Pedestrian Fatality Rates:
Hit at 20MPH = 1%
Hit at 30MPH = 20%
Hit at 40MPH = 31%
1kph change in speed = 6% change in injury collisions
The figures, based on collisions with at least one contributing factor recorded, show that more than half (56%) of fatal collisions in 2023 had at least one speed related factor assigned.
