Road safety to be enhanced with introduction of 20mph zones
Published 28 May 2026
Safety on roads across West Dunbartonshire is set to be enhanced with the introduction of 20mph zones.
West Dunbartonshire Council’s roads department has undertaken work to identify areas which could benefit from a reduced speed limit.
They have also taken on feedback from communities who have expressed a desire for lower speed limits to be implemented on their streets in the past with those areas forming some of the first zones to come into action.
The information was presented to members of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development committee who agreed to proceed with Traffic Regulation Orders to support the reduction in speed limits.
The initial areas are:
- Alexandria North,
- Bellsmyre and the surrounding area,
- Bonhill and Haldane,
- Bowling and Old Kilpatrick,
- Linnvale,
- Milton,
- Silverton.
Full details are available on our 20mph speed limits page
The Roads and Transportation Team carried out speed surveys on some of the roads identified and a statutory consultation was held at the end of last year in which members of the public were asked for their feedback.
Analysis from the Department for Transport estimates that journey times in 20mph zones increase by less than half a minute for a two-mile trip and less than a minute on a five-mile trip compared with a 30mph zone.
Meanwhile the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says that a pedestrian who is hit by a car travelling at between 30mph and 40mph is between three-and-a-half and five-and-a-half times more likely to be killed than if hit by a car driver travelling at below 30mph.
Funding for implementation of the scheme has come from the Scottish Government as part of their National Strategy for 20mph.
Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor David McBride, said: “Reducing the speed limit on roads is a vital tool in making streets safer, encouraging active travel and reducing congestion which can also have a positive impact on emissions.
“I am delighted that West Dunbartonshire Council has taken a strategic approach to assessing which streets would benefit from the introduction of a 20mph zone and I look forward to communities seeing the benefit of this scheme.”
Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, said: “The figures are very stark on the difference in safety of both pedestrians and vehicle users when travelling at 20mph compared with 30mph meanwhile the difference in journey times is negligible. This is a sensible and proportionate way to improve road safety with added benefits to the environment and people’s wellbeing.”
The initial phase of the 20mph zones will be implemented this summer.