North Northamptonshire Council is set to review a new county-wide policy aimed at standardising how speed limits are managed on local roads. The council’s Executive will meet at 10am on Tuesday 14 April 2026 at the Corby Cube to consider the proposed Speed Management Policy.
The draft policy, brought forward by Councillor Chris McGiffen, the executive member for highways and travel, brings together existing practices into a single document. Under the new approach, the council will use the mean speed of traffic as the primary measure when assessing whether to change speed limits on local roads. This method aligns with national guidance and replaces previous, fragmented approaches to managing traffic speeds.
A key focus of the proposal is road design, with the council looking to create self-explaining roads that encourage safer driving through layout rather than relying solely on signs or enforcement. As part of this, the council has confirmed it will not support the installation of road humps or other vertical speed bumps. The decision follows concerns regarding the long-term cost of maintaining these structures, potential vehicle damage, and the impact of vibrations on nearby properties and emergency vehicle access.
The council continues to involve local communities in safety efforts through the Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance, a partnership that coordinates efforts between the police, fire service, health services, and highways teams. Residents and town and parish councils also remain central to the plan, with 90 local communities already taking advantage of a scheme that allows them to purchase their own vehicle-activated signs to address speeding concerns.
The council also maintains a formal process for those seeking changes to road safety measures. A speed limit review panel meets six times across each financial year to evaluate requests to adjust speed limits. Further details about the proposed policy and the upcoming meeting are available on the North Northamptonshire Council website, where the session will also be broadcast live.
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