FIGURES showing a “significant reduction” in crashes across 20mph zones in the Borders have been described as “extremely encouraging”.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) was the first local authority area in Scotland to introduce widespread 20mph speed limits in 2020.

The initiative divided opinion across the region and officials were sent death threats in a survey on the zones in 2021.

But Transport Scotland figures show that a total of 16 crashes resulting in injury within 20/30mph zones were reported to police in 2022.

That number is “significantly down” on the 38 incidents recorded in 2019, says SBC.

Councillor John Greenwell, the council’s executive member for roads development & maintenance, said: “We can’t make any assumptions about longer term road trends, but this is extremely encouraging news that indicates a reduction in the number of crashes across the Scottish Borders.

“Whilst the sample size is small and we will have to closely monitor these statistics over the next years to get a clearer picture of the impact reduced speed limits have had, it is obviously positive news to see fewer crashes being recorded meaning our roads and streets are safer places for all.

“Twenty-miles-per-hour is gradually becoming the new normal across built-up areas and more and more all local authority areas in Scotland are introducing reduced speed limits as a safety measure.

“As set out by Transport Scotland in their national strategy, default 20mph limits will be rolled out to every road in built-up areas across Scotland by 2025 and I’m extremely proud that the council has been able to lead the conversation around this issue.”

The 2022 figure is down four on the 20 crashes recorded in 2020 and down three when compared to 2019.

SBC said it had not taken data from those two years into account due to Covid-19 and there being fewer vehicles on the road.

It said that the latest figures indicated there was “less potential for accidents and injuries to vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists”.

There were 56 fewer crashes resulting in injuries across all speed limit zones in 2022 compared with 2019.

Collisions recorded in 40mph and 70mph zones rose by one to two and zero to one respectively in 2022.

But incidents fell from four to three in 50mph areas and plummeted from 106 to 71 within 60mph limits.

The 20mph trial was initially introduced as part of the Spaces for People programme – aimed at encouraging more active travel throughout the pandemic.

SBC also confirmed it had secured additional cash to add electronic speed signs to “many more communities” in the coming months.