Request ID: FOI-2749-2122 Date published: 24 March 2022
You asked
Hi there, my freedom of information request is set out below
Several years ago TFL introduced a temporary speed limit of 30 MPH on the Westway (being the elevated section of the A40 between Marylebone road as it raises up above Edgware Road and at the end of the Westway when it lowers back down onto the A40 approaching Acton. The speed limit was reduced in order to protect the bridge joints. An average speed check zone was set up by TFL and is enforced by the metropolitan police.
Please confirm the date when the 30 MPH speed limit was imposed and provide a copy of the traffic order.
Please confirm the date that the average speed check system was initially switched on by TFL.
The initial 30 MPH stretch was limited to the elevated section however early last year the 30 MPH limit was extended by several hundred yards towards Acton after the Westway lowers in both directions. Later last year (around September/ October) the 30 MPH speed limit on The Westway was also extended by a couple of hundred yards along the West Cross Route (north bound) being the dual carriageway that connects to the Shepherds Bush roundabout.
Please confirm the dates of the extensions of these speed limits as above and provide copies of the traffic orders as well as the minutes of the meeting in which it was decided that the 30 MPH limit should be extended including the reasons why.
We answered
TfL Ref: 2749-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 2 March 2022 asking for information about traffic orders for the Westway A40. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked: Several years ago TFL introduced a temporary speed limit of 30 MPH on the Westway (being the elevated section of the A40 between Marylebone Road as it raises up above Edgware Road and at the end of the Westway when it lowers back down onto the A40 approaching Acton. The speed limit was reduced in order to protect the bridge joints. An average speed check zone was set up by TFL and is enforced by the metropolitan police.
Please confirm the date when the 30 MPH speed limit was imposed and provide a copy of the traffic order.
Please find attached the 2 temporary orders that reduced the speed limit of the Westway to 30 MPH with measurements provided by Police/TfL for camera enforcement. These temporary orders have now been replaced by 023 which is also attached which permanently makes it 30 MPH. The dates that they came into force are on the orders.
Please confirm the date that the average speed check system was initially switched on by TFL. The initial 30 MPH stretch was limited to the elevated section however early last year the 30 MPH limit was extended by several hundred yards towards Acton after the Westway lowers in both directions. Later last year (around September/ October) the 30 MPH speed limit on The Westway was also extended by a couple of hundred yards along the West Cross Route (north bound) being the dual carriageway that connects to the Shepherds Bush roundabout.
The average speed corridor at this location was live under the previous speed limit and a speed threshold change was made to this as part of the reduction in speed limit alongside the raised traffic order.
The average speed threshold at the required location was implemented after the traffic order was made live and this was not enforced until the traffic order was in place and also when the signage changes had all been made to make this compliant for the Metropolitan Police to be able to enforce. The thresholds for the affected Westway links and other associated software configuration changes were all completed by the safety camera contractor by 29th May 2020.
Please confirm the dates of the extensions of these speed limits as above and provide copies of the traffic orders as well as the minutes of the meeting in which it was decided that the 30 MPH limit should be extended including the reasons why.
Please see our answer above and the attached Traffic Orders. We don’t hold any minutes of a meeting where the extension was decided however the decision was made following a risk assessment carried out on 18 May 2020 and recommendations were made to:
extend the 30mph speed restriction to include the whole length of the A40 Elevated section from Marylebone flyover to Wood lane, and
the speed restriction of 40mph to 30 mph was to be implemented over the weekend of the 13th/14th June.
We ensured that stakeholders were notified of the reduction.
Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
Please note that unlike many other decriminalised offences, speeding offences are administered by the Police and TfL does not receive any of the revenue resulting from fines incurred. Equally we are not in a position to refund or rescind penalty points incurred – this would be a matter for the courts. All the regulatory speed limit signage is in position and we also aim to provide a good level of repeaters and speed camera warning signs to give drivers the information they need to meet the regulations.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
