Safe Speed
Maintaining safe speeds on Jersey’s roads is essential for reducing collisions and their severity as part of the broader Safe System Approach. By managing speeds effectively, we contribute to creating a safer environment for all road users.
On this page, you will find information about Jersey’s speed limit framework, practical insights into speed compliance and penalties for speeding, and findings from speed studies exploring the connection between vehicle speed and injury severity.
Table of Contents
Setting Appropriate Speed Limits
Managing traffic speeds will help make Jersey’s roads safer and more inclusive for everyone, particularly vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Encouraging safer speeds will be especially important around schools, residential areas, and popular tourist destinations.
Speed limits will be set based on a clear framework designed to ensure consistency and fairness across the Island. A review of all speed limits is currently underway to align them with this framework. Details are outlined below:
40MPH – Maximum
The all-Island maximum speed limit is 40mph, or 30mph for vehicles over 3.5T or towing a trailer.
30MPH – Urban Area
Urban areas should be subject to a 30mph speed limit, with extensions into rural areas where appropriate.
20MPH – Village
Village Centres, typically where people might be walking between a church, a Parish Hall, a shop or a pub, should be 20mph.
20MPH – Residential Area
Residential areas that are not ‘through routes’, where pedestrian and cycle movements are likely to be high should be 20mph.
20MPH – Tourist Bays
Tourist bays with high pedestrian and cyclist activity should have a 20mph speed limit.
20MPH – School Zones
Part-time 20mph zones may be signed around schools, at times when children are present.
15MPH – Green Lanes
Green Lanes have a 15mph speed limit. Motorised vehicles should give priority to pedestrians, cyclists, and horses at all times.
Please note that where the framework indicates a 40 or 30mph speed limit, a lower speed limit may be applied for road safety reasons.
Speed Compliance
The States of Jersey Police actively enforce speed limits using manual speed detection equipment. These checks are frequently conducted in areas identified as speeding hotspots.
Additionally, other locations may be monitored in response to community concerns about speeding vehicles.
Speed Indicator Device
To raise awareness of speed limits, portable speed indicator devices are strategically deployed across the Island. These devices display the speed of approaching vehicles along with a visual prompt: a sad face for speeds exceeding the limit and a happy face for speeds within the limit.
Their primary purpose is to encourage compliance with speed limits and to increase driver awareness. Often, driving can become an automatic act, and motorists may not realise they are exceeding the speed limit. These devices serve as a gentle reminder to remain attentive to their speed.
Penalties for Speeding
If you are caught speeding, the consequences will depend on the severity of the offense:
- Minor Breaches: You may be required to attend a parish hall enquiry
- Serious Violations: You could be summoned to the Magistrate’s Court.
If found guilty, penalties can include:
- Fines: The amount typically reflects how much over the limit you were driving.
- Bans: The length typically reflects how much over the limit you were driving.
- Driving Licence Penalties: Your licence may be endorsed, which could increase your insurance rates, and you may also face a driving ban.
Speed Studies
There is a common misunderstanding about speed among motorists. Many believe that speeding is not an issue as long as they drive carefully. However, unforeseen circumstances can arise while driving, and to minimise the potential negative effects, it is crucial to adhere to the speed limit and adjust your speed according to the environment, including weather, road, and lighting conditions.
The research below emphasises the essential role of speed management in enhancing road safety. Numerous studies have examined the connection between vehicle speed and the severity of injuries. Generally, these studies conclude that higher speeds lead to more severe injuries.
1mph change in speed = 5% increase in collision rate
Pedestrian Fatality Rates:
Hit at 20MPH = 1%
Hit at 30MPH = 20%
Hit at 40MPH = 31%
1mph change in speed = 9.7% increase in injury collisions
In 2023, speed was a contributing factor in over half (56%) of all fatal collisions where at least one cause was identified.