Brent Council urged to scrap 20mph limit on Preston Road

A North London councillor is calling for Brent Council to reintroduce a 30mph speed limit on sections of Preston Road, arguing the current 20mph restriction is unnecessary and leads to dangerous driving. Councillor Michael Maurice submitted a petition signed by 88 residents requesting the change on the stretch between Carlton Avenue East and its junction with East Lane and Forty Avenue.

Councillor Maurice stated that the low speed limit has resulted in road rage and dangerous overtaking, claiming drivers adhering to the 20mph limit have been overtaken by buses. He also suggested the limit does not deter speeding drivers, who are then more likely to be involved in accidents. The councillor added that many drivers, including bus drivers, have faced prosecution for exceeding the limit by only a small margin.

Council data shows casualty reduction

Brent Council introduced the 20mph limit along the entire length of Preston Road in 2018, following a public consultation in autumn 2017 where 72 per cent of respondents supported the measure. The council stated that casualty figures on the road have significantly decreased since the lower speed limit was implemented. Between July 2014 and June 2017, prior to the scheme's introduction, there were 64 casualties from road traffic collisions. In the most recent comparable three-year period, from November 2022 to October 2025, this figure reduced to 35.

When the council first proposed the changes in 2017, it highlighted 52 accidents that had occurred on the road since 2014, resulting in 58 casualties. Of these, five were serious injuries and 53 were slight. The accidents involved pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and car occupants, prompting the council to implement measures to improve pedestrian safety and reduce vehicle speeds.

Councillor Maurice acknowledged the appropriateness of 20mph limits in specific areas like schools and busy shopping districts. However, he argued that different sections of Preston Road have distinct characteristics. He also claimed that council surveys indicated significant non-compliance with the 20mph limit and questioned the evidence of its safety improvements on the particular stretch in question. He noted that police enforcement appears concentrated on the section near the shops, not on the stretch where residents are petitioning for a speed limit increase.

Council to review petition

A spokesperson for Brent Council confirmed that the authority is aware of the petition requesting the return to a 30mph limit. The council stated it will consider the request alongside relevant traffic and road safety data before issuing a formal response.