Palma’s (positive) results on 30 km/h lane limitation

InfrastructureNewsSocial issues

Palma town hall is one of European cities that introduced a 30 km/h lane for roads with two or more lanes in both directions. The intention was that these lanes will enable “better coexistence” between cars, bikes, scooters and other personal mobility vehicles.

This decision has led to a 58% reduction in serious accidents and an overall decrease in accidents of 37%.

Mayor of Palma José Hila pointed to a marked decrease in the accident rate between November and February compared with the same period in 2019 and 2020, albeit those were months which were not marked by the pandemic and the curfew., reports Majorcadailybulletin.

Mayor Hila also said that 30 km/h lanes will continue to be introduced on roads with a limit of 40 or 50. These will allow space for bikes and scooters, so that they don’t have to go onto the main part of the road.

This speed limit now applies to all urban roads in Spain. The 50 km/h limit remains in force only for roads with more than one lane in both directions.

The director of the traffic directorate in the Balearics, Francisca Ramis, says that the speed limit change goal is to cut the accident rate by 40%: “It is about protecting pedestrians, cyclists and users of personal mobility vehicles, so that they can coexist safely with cars.” Photo Majorcadailybulletin