Action group calls for 15mph speed limit

Ruettes Tranquilles currently have a non-mandatory, recommended speed limit of 15mph

A Guernsey action group has started a campaign to introduce a 15mph speed limit on some of the island's narrower routes.

There is currently a recommended 15mph speed limit for users of Ruettes Tranquilles but the Guernsey Road Users Network (GRUN) has said it wanted this limit to become mandatory.

GRUN's chair Jennifer Merrett said: "If we want all road users to enjoy and respect Ruette Tranquilles then the speed limit needs to be made mandatory so it is a punishable offence if 15mph is exceeded."

Traffic and Highway Services said it was a matter for the next Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure - to be elected after the election - to decide if it should be considered.

Ruettes Tranquilles are narrow lanes on the island intended for shared use by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, and motorists.

Ms Merrett added: "The current recommended 15mph is there to encourage users to navigate these narrow lanes cautiously but sadly some people decide to ignore the need to act responsibly which puts more vulnerable road users, as well as themselves, at risk."

Several other action groups and community groups on the island have joined the campaign.

The Better Journey Project, a community initiative that promotes sustainable travel​ across the Channel Islands, said: "It is time to formally establish the advisory 15mph speed limit and hierarchy of road users by law.  

"This would reinforce the purpose of these routes as an option for safer, more pleasant travel and encourage motorists to use the main road network and avoid the temptation to use these routes as rat runs."

'Near misses'

Road safety charity Living Streets Guernsey added: "With lanes often only just wider than a car and few, if any, escape routes, pedestrians and animals are left dangerously exposed if vehicles do not stick to the recommended 15mph.

"Reports of near misses and pets narrowly avoiding tragedy are far too common."

Robert Cornelius, president of the Guernsey Motor Trade Association (GMTA), said: "The GMTA see no reason why the current 15mph recommended speed limits could not be made mandatory.

"This is likely to have very little effect on anyone's daily commute in the island."

Traffic and Highway Services said: "Introducing mandatory speed limits in Ruettes Tranquilles was considered in the 2016-2020 political term when a decision was taken not to progress this, partly due to the fact that this was not seen as a good use of taxpayers' money when a review of speed limits across the island was required anyway.

"There has, however, been committee support for this change.

"As this matter has not been considered in this political term, it would be up to the next Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure to consider whether this should be considered in the next term."