Transport for London will bring in 20mph speed limits on its roads in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets from tomorrow (31 March).
The changes will see almost all the roads in the boroughs have a consistent 20mph speed limit on both the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) and borough road network. TfL points out lowering speed limits is a key part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury from London’s transport network and to enable more walking and cycling in the capital.
TfL explains that indicative monitoring of the 20mph speed limits introduced on roads within the central London Congestion Charging Zone suggests a significant reduction in the number of collisions since its introduction. Data collected from 1st May 2020 to 30 June 2022 shows the number of collisions has reduced by 25 per cent (from 406 to 304), and collisions resulting in death or serious injury have reduced by 25 per cent (from 94 to 71), demonstrating the huge impact of lowering speeds across London. Vulnerable road users continue to be most at risk on London’s roads, but since the introduction of 20mph speed limits, collisions involving vulnerable road users have decreased by 36% (from 453 to 290), while collisions involving people walking have decreased by 63% (from 124 to 46).
The 20mph speed limits will be introduced on sections of the A503, A501, A41, A1, A10, A11 and A1203 and will be supported by new signs and road markings, and TfL is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that drivers understand and comply with the new lower speed limits. Banners attached to streetlamps in the new 20mph areas will also be put in place to increase driver awareness of the new speed limit. Following implementation, TfL plans to carry out monitoring to determine whether further measures to further reduce vehicle speeds are required.
TfL adds that collision data from around the world shows that the speed at which people are driving or riding is the single most important factor in whether a collision takes place and how severely people are injured. The police reported speed as a contributory factor in almost half of fatal collisions in 2020. It adds that it is committed to expanding its lowering speed limits programme and is now working to lower speeds on 140km of its roads by 2024 and in 37 town centre locations in inner and outer London. TfL is working with the Met Police to increase their capacity to take enforcement against drivers and riders who speed and are on target to be able to take action on a million speeding offences by 2024. This year, 2022/23, the police will enforce around 650,000 speeding offences, an increase of around 30 per cent compared to the previous year.
Last week, TfL launched local engagement on plans to introduce 40 miles (65km) of new 20mph speed limits within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley and Lambeth.
London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman, said: “TfL data shows that 20mph speed limits are reducing the number of collisions on London’s roads, highlighting how important the continued expansion of the 20mph programme is. Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger and we’ll continue to work with TfL, the Met Police 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)
