A petition has been launched calling on the government to halt its plans to expand 20mph zones in towns and villages.
While arterial routes will be staying at 30mph, other roads in urban areas will be 20mph, including the Main Road in Onchan.
The DoI has said the move, which was first rolled out in Port St Mary, is to promote safety on the roads and for pedestrians.
The focus is on the installation of new signage, raising public awareness and encouraging compliance through behaviour change.
Schools are included in the strategy and will see existing signs replaced in addition to the installation of flashing lights to highlight when drivers should take extra care.
However, the petition, started by Lee Smith, says the plan will have unintended consequences.
Petition
Mr Smith’s petition says the plan will have “several ignored implications, chiefly amongst them are the increase in congestion and CO2 emissions”.
He added: “Traffic speeds influence the choice between car travel and greener forms of transport like cycling and walking. Lower speeds can make these alternatives less appealing, leading to a dependency on car travel and, consequently, an increase in carbon emissions.
“According to the UK Department for Transport, stop-start driving caused by congestion can increase CO2 emissions by as much as 30% (source: UK Department for Transport).
“By setting a blanket speed limit of 20mph, we risk making our traffic flow less efficient and more environmentally damaging.”
Mr Smith wants to see the plan halted while a “balance between safety, efficiency, and ecology” is found.
You can find the petition here.
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