Oxfordshire County Council has said its extensive 20mph programme is helping to improve road safety, as debate continues over whether lower speed limits should become the default on residential roads across England.

The authority, which has supported the introduction of 20mph limits in 275 towns and villages, says provisional Government data shows the number of people killed or seriously injured on Oxfordshire’s roads fell by around 18 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year.

The figures come as national discussions continue around the future of speed management and road safety policy.

Giving evidence to MPs, representatives from the independent Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety argued that introducing 20mph as the default speed limit on residential and built-up roads across England could provide a more effective and cost-efficient approach to reducing collisions than the current system, where decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

The organisation’s executive director, Jamie Hassall, suggested a national default limit would simplify implementation, while still allowing local authorities to increase speed limits where appropriate.

The issue remains a divisive one across the UK.

In Wales, 20mph is already the default speed limit on restricted roads in built-up areas, while the Scottish Government has committed to introducing 20mph limits on roads where local assessments determine they are appropriate.

According to walking charity Living Streets, 62 of England’s 153 local authorities have adopted policies similar to the Scottish approach, supporting wider use of lower speed limits in residential areas.

However, the Department for Transport has reiterated that decisions on speed limits remain the responsibility of local authorities.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said:

“Local authorities are responsible for setting speed limits in their areas, and our guidance is that 20mph limits should only be used where they are appropriate and supported by evidence.”

As discussions continue at both local and national level, Oxfordshire’s reported reduction in serious road casualties is likely to add further weight to the ongoing debate around the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits.