Commuters across Birmingham are set for a significant change to their daily journeys as the city council confirms plans to implement a widespread 30mph speed limit on dozens of major roads.
The ambitious road safety strategy, scheduled to begin in early 2026, will see speed limits reduced from 40mph to 30mph on 27 key routes, effectively eliminating 40mph zones across the city.
Major Road Safety Overhaul
This initiative forms the core of Birmingham City Council's Road Harm Reduction strategy, a determined effort to drastically cut the number of deaths and serious injuries on the city's roads. Council bosses state that the new rule will apply to 'virtually all roads' within the city, creating a default 30mph maximum.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, the council's cabinet member for roads, emphasised the commitment to safety, stating: "Together we must do whatever it takes to make roads safer for everyone, which is what our Road Harm Reduction strategy sets out. We are making the speed limit on virtually all roads a maximum of 30mph – this will be implemented later this year."
Full List of Affected Roads
Drivers who regularly use these arterial routes will need to be particularly mindful of the new restrictions. The comprehensive list of roads transitioning from 40mph to 30mph includes:
- A34 Walsall Road, Perry Barr Expressway, Birchfield Road, and High Street
- A452 Chester Road North and Chester Road
- A41 Hockley Flyover (Soho Hill and Hockley Hill)
- A38 Bristol Road South and Kingsbury Road
- A45 Small Heath Highway and Coventry Road
- A47 Heartlands/Fort Parkway and Nechells Parkway
Other significant routes affected are the A4540 Ring Road, A441 Redditch Road, A456 Hagley Road West, and A4041 Queslett Road, among others.
Enforcement and Additional Measures
To support the new limits, the council is rolling out a dual approach of new signage and enhanced enforcement. New 30mph signs will be installed across the affected areas to alert motorists to the change.
Furthermore, the council is collaborating with police on the use of red light cameras and has announced six new locations for average speed cameras throughout Birmingham. This indicates that police may conduct targeted speed operations on these routes once the new limits are active to ensure compliance.
Motorists are being urged to familiarise themselves with the upcoming changes to avoid potential fines and, most importantly, to contribute to making Birmingham's roads safer for all users.
