Pudsey residents say cars still speeding in new 20mph zone

Residents living near a new 20mph zone in Leeds have said the reduction in the speed limit has not stopped drivers “racing around”.

Pudsey was one of six “local centres” across the city where new restrictions were introduced by the council in 2024.

Although new signage was installed, those living nearby said the limit is not “enforced” and that traffic calming measures such as speed bumps are needed.

Leeds City Council said it had monitored average speeds since the zone was set up as part of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero campaign to reduce road deaths.

When the BBC visited the area, former ambulance service worker Jon Harris said he had still witnessed dangerous driving a year on from the speed limit being lowered.

“It’s not enforced, there’s no sign of any speed bumps, there’s nothing,” said the 32-year-old.

He added that vehicles still “fly around corners” and that speeding is a “recipe for disaster”.

“It’s just waiting for something to happen, and that’s probably what it’s going to come to for anything else to happen, other than putting up some ’20’ signs,” he added.

He said he also felt anxious about taking his children out in the town centre because “traffic just races around”.

Hazel White, 74, agreed that people “drive far too fast” in Pudsey.

“It’s a built-up area and I think safety’s very important, especially with elderly people who tend to cross the road in strange places,” she said.

She supported the council’s decision to spend money on road safety initiatives.

“Money should be spent on things that are important,” she said.

Tony Marnick, who has lived in the area for 23 years, said shops would benefit from the 20mph limit as it could ease congestion.

“The amount of traffic we get in Pudsey now is amazing,” the 79-year-old said.

However, another passer-by, Robert Lumb, thought that the volume of traffic meant most vehicles were forced to travel slowly.

He thought the 20mph zone was “not really” an effective use of money, adding: “Rather than putting signs up, I’d prefer them to fill the holes in the road, which can cause an accident.”

Among younger residents, 19-year-old roofing contractor Kye Darby said he regularly saw drivers exceeding the new limit.

“Cars fly up here – it’s a busy area. A lot of elderly people live over here, and there’s schools, so you can expect a 20mph limit really.

“Unless there’s a camera, they’re not going to stick to it.”

The 20mph zones have also been introduced in Rothwell, Meanwood, Wetherby, Morley and Kippax.

Leeds City Council said these areas were carefully selected and that “roads that are less built-up, or which are intended only to connect places in the city, have been kept at 30mph or above”.

A spokesperson said: “Once a speed limit has been installed, we check that the average speed is satisfactory.

“Where average speeds are higher than expected, we can consider traffic calming measures or request that the West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership carry out mobile speed camera enforcement.”