Getting speed limits reduced in villages

DorsetRoadSafe http://www.dorsetroadsafe.org/index.php?ref=36 say 'if you would like a speed limit to be lowered your request will be assessed based on the nationally agreed criteria:-http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/dftcircular106/dftcircular106.pdf. This paper gives a reference to Taylor (2000) mentioned (page 6) in point 17) 

Research has in particular proven the correlation between speed and accident frequency and severity, and accident reductions. Much of this evidence has been demonstrated by and around mean vehicle speeds including, for example, how each 1 mph reduction in average speed reduces accident frequency by 5% (Finch et al., 1993; Taylor et al., 2000).

Figure A (from Taylor, M. C., Lynam, D. A. and Baruya, A. (2000), TRL Report 421 – The Effects of Drivers’ Speed on the Frequency of Road Accidents. Crowthorne: TRL) concludes (pg 2) that:-

• in any given situation, higher speeds mean more accidents and the higher the speed the more rapidly does accident frequency rise with increases in speed. 
• Reducing the speed of the fastest drivers (ie. those travelling faster than the average for the road) would yield the greatest benefits in reducing death and injury. 
• The percentage reduction in accident frequency achievable per 1mile/h reduction in average speed is between 2-7%. The earlier 5% figure remains a robust general rule. The reduction achievable, however, varies according to the road type and the average traffic speed. Specifically:-
• about 6% for urban roads with low average speeds; 
• about 4% for medium speed urban roads and lower speed rural main roads
• about 3% for the higher speed urban roads and rural main roads. 
• In urban areas the potential for accident reduction (per 1mile/h reduction in average speed) is greatest on those roads with low average speeds (Figure A). These are typically busy main roads in towns with high levels of pedestrian activity, wide variations in speeds, and high accident frequencies.

from page 19, point 74 Traffic Advisory Leaflet 09/99 (20 mph Speed Limits and Zones) (DETR 1999a) gives advice on how and where to implement 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones.

from page 20, point 78. 20 mph zones are very effective at reducing collisions and injuries. This is confirmed in research that shows that the number of accidents involving injury to children may be reduced by up to two-thirds (Webster and Mackie, 1996).