A lack of funding and guidance from Government is preventing councils from implementing 20mph limits, according to a new report.

Road safety charity Brake said that while many local authorities recognise the benefits of stricter limits in built up areas, they found the cost prohibitive. Councils have also been confused by Government guidance which has put them off introducing 20mph limits on roads with high average speeds.

The findings come from a freedom of information request to Britain’s 206 local traffic authorities.

Dr Tom Fisher, research manager for Brake, said: ‘At a time when local authority budgets are being slashed by central Government, that Government has a duty to do what it can to enable those authorities to spend that cash as efficiently as possible. However, when it comes to making streets in their communities safer, the Government is tying the hands of cash-strapped councils with out-dated and unnecessary regulation.’

He said 20mph limits were ‘an effective and globally-recognised solution to unacceptably dangerous roads in our cities, towns, and villages’.

Mr Fisher added: ‘Ultimately, we would like to see 20mph become the default urban speed limit in the UK. In the meantime, the Government can remove red tape and show stronger leadership by providing clearer and more positive guidance, and by doing away with the requirement for costly repeater signs.’