A stretch of road near the M5 in South Gloucestershire, described by locals as a “racing track,” has sparked renewed demands for a 30mph speed limit to address excessive speeding and noise disruption. The section of the A4018 running past new housing developments, including Berwick Green, currently has a 40mph limit. However, its straight dual carriageway design and spaced traffic lights make it a hotspot for drivers accelerating rapidly in short bursts, disturbing residents with loud, modified engines.
Arujit Roy, a resident living adjacent to this stretch, spoke at a South Gloucestershire Council meeting on July 16, calling for urgent action. He highlighted that the road’s layout—with three traffic light junctions spaced roughly 200 metres apart between two roundabouts—encourages reckless driving. Mr. Roy explained that the current 40mph limit allows drivers and motorcyclists to speed up significantly between lights, creating noise pollution that impacts physical and mental well-being.
He also pointed out a reluctance by police to enforce speeding laws unless violations are severe, such as traveling 50mph in a 30mph zone, which carries harsher penalties. With four lanes carrying traffic at 40mph, the cumulative noise is substantially greater than it would be at 30mph, aggravating issues such as sleep deprivation, anxiety, and depression for nearby residents.
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Reducing the speed limit to 30mph over this short segment, Mr. Roy insists, would have a negligible effect on travel times but a significant positive impact on the community’s quality of life. The area has seen a surge in new housing and upcoming developments including a large care home, increasing the number of people exposed to the disruptive traffic noise.
Research cited by Mr. Roy also reveals a troubling psychological aspect: drivers who modify their cars to amplify exhaust noise tend to score highly on psychopathy and sadism scales, indicating a troubling disregard and even enjoyment in disturbing others.
Mr. Roy concluded that maintaining a 40mph speed limit in a densely populated residential area makes little sense, especially when other sections are already being reduced to 30mph. He advocates for better public transport options and cycling infrastructure as sustainable solutions to traffic growth in Bristol, rather than permitting higher speed limits that harm residents’ well-being.