GREEN concerns are no longer on the outer fringes of everyday life. But that does not mean every proposal presented under a green banner is automatically a good or sensible one. The call from two Green Party councillors in York for the establishment of 20mph speed limits in residential areas throughout the city is a case in point.

Councillors Andy D'Agorne and Dave Taylor believe that the success of a new 20mph scheme in Fishergate suggests similar zones should be spread to all other residential areas.

We applaud the sentiment and acknowledge that road safety is important - a concern reflected in our own campaign, Live Now Drive Later, and in many other reports on road safety issues. But we do not believe the Green proposal is either necessary or practical.

By definition in a crowded city such as York, almost everywhere is a residential area. So this would see 20mph restrictions brought in for just about every street.

The potential for chaos if such speed limits were introduced remains high.

Traffic moves slowly enough through York as it is - impose a blanket 20mph limit, and the city might grind to a halt.

It would not be safe in all respects, either. Frustrated drivers might well be tempted to overtake in slow-moving traffic, which could lead to even greater dangers.

Certainly, it is true, as the Green councillors point out, that a person is much less likely to die if hit by a car travelling at 20mph, rather than 30mph.

This is why the city already has restrictions outside schools. Most drivers will happily stick to the limit on roads children are likely to be crossing at peak times of the day.

That makes sense, whereas imposing such limits across the city does not.

There has been no call from the police for the lower limit to be spread more widely, and the police are the acknowledged experts on road safety.

So while we applaud the sentiments behind this initiative, we do not feel it would be a goer in York.