TfL to give 65km of roads a 20mph speed limit to fight ‘devastating’ accidents
Transport for London (TfL) has announced it will introduce 65km of new 20mph speed limits across the capital.
The new schemes will be set up in Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley and Lambeth.
TfL said the new speed limits would be introduced in stages over the last four months of the year.
The scheme has been set up to make London’s streets safer after TfL reported that in London each year more than 1,000 people are injured or killed by drivers exceeding the speed limit.
Lowering speed limits is also a key part of the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero goal to enable more walking and cycling in London.
The new speed limits will help make a large area of South London safer and more attractive for people in these communities to live and work in, encouraging people out of their cars to walk, cycle and use public transport more often, TfL said.
Once the works on the new speed limits are finalised, TfL will have delivered 140km of 20mph roads, ahead of its target to do this by May 2024.
The speed limits will be supported by new signs and road markings and TfL has said that it is working closely with the Met to ensure that drivers understand and comply with the new lower speed limits.
Banners attached to street lamps in the new 20mph areas will also be put in place to increase awareness of the new speed limits.
After the speed limits are in place, TfL plans to carry out monitoring to see if any further speed limits are required.
Data collected by TfL from May 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022, when compared to a similar period before lower speed limits were implemented, shows the number of collisions fell 25 per cent, from 405 to 304, and collisions resulting in death or serious injury fell 24 per cent, from 94 to 71.
Walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman, said: “Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger.
“Every death or serious injury on our streets is devastating, bringing heartache and tragedy to all those involved so we will continue to work with TfL, the Met and London’s boroughs to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, creating a safer, greener London for everyone.”
(Picture: TfL)
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