CALLS for the 20mph speed limit to be spread further in Edinburgh have intensified after a young girl was rushed to hospital after being hit by a car.
The 10-year-old was knocked down in the Drum Brae North area of the city, at around 3:45pm on Wednesday.
This comes just days after 20-year-old Henry Farron was tragically killed after being hit by a grey Volvo in Fountainbridge.
The City of Edinburgh Council is planning to reduce speed limits on 66 roads to 20 mph, therefore widening the 20mph network introduced in 2018.
Enquiries into Wednesday’s accident are ongoing, and there has been no update issued on the nature or seriousness of the girl’s injuries.
Since Edinburgh committed to reducing speeds in 2018, road traffic deaths have fallen by 30%.
The aim is to reduce this even further, especially due to the increased rate of deaths and injuries at the hands of vehicles this year.
Concerns over reduced speed limits have been raised, however, as bus journeys are set to become longer.
In an evaluation of the 20mph speed limit roll out, introduced in 2022, the council stated: “Although the reductions in speeds observed across the road network may appear relatively small, every collision avoided is a positive achievement.
“Research suggests that if average speeds reduce by 1mph, the collision rate should fall by approximately 5%.
“Collisions occurring at lower speeds are also likely to result in less severe injuries.”
In a post on social media, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: “For the last six years I’ve been pushing for Scotland to become a safer 20mph nation.
“Now we are so close to getting 20mph rolled out to every community saving lives.
“Promising news in the Scottish budget.”
Others have backed the plans to reduce speed, such as South West Edinburgh 20 Minute Neighbourhoods (SW20ed) who are committed to promoting cycling or other ways to get around without relying on an automobile.
After sharing an article on how Helsinki and Oslo had no pedestrian deaths in 2019, they say: “VisionZero – where there are no pedestrian deaths – should be possible for Edinburgh.”
“Loss of life is not an inevitable consequence of getting around – least of all for those on foot or bike.
“The most successful cities are the safest ones and often those who prioritise cars least.”
Others weren’t entirely happy about the prospect of decreased speed, with Scottish Conservative MSP, Sue Webber stating in Parliament: “Lothian Buses have raised concerns that the slower traffic will affect journey times for passengers, adding to the misery commuters face across our capital.”
As well as reducing 30mph roads to 20mph, the council also proposes reducing some 60mph roads to 40mph.
The roads potentially affected by lower speed limits are mainly ones with higher density housing, retail presence, significant pedestrian/cycling activity and streets that are narrow.
A Police Scotland spokesperson today said: “Around 3:45pm on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 we were called to a crash involving a car and a pedestrian at Drum Brae Road, Edinburgh.
“The pedestrian, a ten-year-old girl, was taken to hospital for treatment, and the road was closed for around one hour and 30 minutes.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
Mark Ruskell MSP and Sue Webber MSP have been contacted for comment.
