David Williams and Ross Lydall
22.01.08 Related Articles
Most of London could be subject to a 20mph speed limit under new plans.
Mayor Ken Livingstone is encouraging each of the capital's 33 councils to launch their own borough-wide "safety zones,” after evidence that they cut accidents and injuries by half.
Until now, boroughs have only been allowed to introduce 20mph limits in limited pockets - and only if they install costly enforcement measures including humps and speed cameras.
However, from today, the Mayor will announce, councils will be able to make 20mph the "default" speed across the borough - with or without enforcement measures.
Transport for London will exempt major through-routes where motorists will still be able to do 30mph, in negotiation with each borough. TfL has approved trials of wireless cameras capable of enforcing area-wide speed limits. One in 10 roads - roughly 12 per cent of the road network in the capital - is already covered by 20mph zones.
But transport experts believe that most roads in London will soon have a 20mph limit, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Boroughs will not have to install speed cameras or humps but will get backing from TfL if they prove a need.
The restrictions are likely to be enforced by speed cameras and new road designs as Mr Livingstone is an opponent of more road humps.
He said today: "Twenty miles per hour speed limits save lives and make our neighbourhoods better. These measures will build on what we have already done so that the quality of life in our local neighbourhoods is improved for everyone. I think if you can say 20mph zones without the road humps there won't be any opposition."
According to City Hall, nine out of 10 pedestrians will be killed if hit by a car travelling at 40mph, two out of 10 will die if struck at 30mph but his drops to one in 40 at 20mph.
The Mayor has adopted a series of key Green party aims in exchange for its support in passing his annual budget next month. Jenny Jones, of the London Assembly Green Party, said: "Making 20mph the normal speed limit across whole boroughs in London will save lives, save money and give a major boost to cycling, as people would feel safer on their local roads. There would be some exemptions for main roads."
Portsmouth already has 20mph limits in residential areas. Islington almost became the first London area with a borough-wide 20mph limit but the move was defeated by one vote.
Haringey could be the first London borough with a blanket 20mph limit.
It has a number of existing 20mph zones in Tottenham, Seven Sisters, Muswell Hill and Hornsey, and is consulting on new schemes in Wood Green, central Crouch End and Stroud Green, as well as extensions to the Muswell Hill scheme.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety says Britain's annual 3,100 road death toll would be cut by two-thirds to around 1,000 a year if all residential areas had 20mph limits.
The Transport Research Laboratory says 20mph limits can cut child road accidents by up to 67 per cent. Richard Curedon, of the TRL, said: "Twenty miles an hour does seem slow but simple physics are that if you're driving at that speed you can hopefully avoid the crash, which at 30 you're going to have."
However the AA said a blanket 20mph speed limit was wrong. Paul Watters, head of roads and transportation policy, said 20mph zones had "huge" benefits - but only when applied judiciously. He said: "If this becomes the default limit across the board it will reduce capacity on London's roads.
"London is geographically big and still has lots of main A-roads where people have to make progress. If some main roads end up with 20mph limits, people will ignore it and this could bring other 20mph zones into disrepute. They should only be introduced on a road by road basis."
22.01.08 Related Articles
Most of London could be subject to a 20mph speed limit under new plans.
Mayor Ken Livingstone is encouraging each of the capital's 33 councils to launch their own borough-wide "safety zones,” after evidence that they cut accidents and injuries by half.
Until now, boroughs have only been allowed to introduce 20mph limits in limited pockets - and only if they install costly enforcement measures including humps and speed cameras.
However, from today, the Mayor will announce, councils will be able to make 20mph the "default" speed across the borough - with or without enforcement measures.
Transport for London will exempt major through-routes where motorists will still be able to do 30mph, in negotiation with each borough. TfL has approved trials of wireless cameras capable of enforcing area-wide speed limits. One in 10 roads - roughly 12 per cent of the road network in the capital - is already covered by 20mph zones.
But transport experts believe that most roads in London will soon have a 20mph limit, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Boroughs will not have to install speed cameras or humps but will get backing from TfL if they prove a need.
The restrictions are likely to be enforced by speed cameras and new road designs as Mr Livingstone is an opponent of more road humps.
He said today: "Twenty miles per hour speed limits save lives and make our neighbourhoods better. These measures will build on what we have already done so that the quality of life in our local neighbourhoods is improved for everyone. I think if you can say 20mph zones without the road humps there won't be any opposition."
According to City Hall, nine out of 10 pedestrians will be killed if hit by a car travelling at 40mph, two out of 10 will die if struck at 30mph but his drops to one in 40 at 20mph.
The Mayor has adopted a series of key Green party aims in exchange for its support in passing his annual budget next month. Jenny Jones, of the London Assembly Green Party, said: "Making 20mph the normal speed limit across whole boroughs in London will save lives, save money and give a major boost to cycling, as people would feel safer on their local roads. There would be some exemptions for main roads."
Portsmouth already has 20mph limits in residential areas. Islington almost became the first London area with a borough-wide 20mph limit but the move was defeated by one vote.
Haringey could be the first London borough with a blanket 20mph limit.
It has a number of existing 20mph zones in Tottenham, Seven Sisters, Muswell Hill and Hornsey, and is consulting on new schemes in Wood Green, central Crouch End and Stroud Green, as well as extensions to the Muswell Hill scheme.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety says Britain's annual 3,100 road death toll would be cut by two-thirds to around 1,000 a year if all residential areas had 20mph limits.
The Transport Research Laboratory says 20mph limits can cut child road accidents by up to 67 per cent. Richard Curedon, of the TRL, said: "Twenty miles an hour does seem slow but simple physics are that if you're driving at that speed you can hopefully avoid the crash, which at 30 you're going to have."
However the AA said a blanket 20mph speed limit was wrong. Paul Watters, head of roads and transportation policy, said 20mph zones had "huge" benefits - but only when applied judiciously. He said: "If this becomes the default limit across the board it will reduce capacity on London's roads.
"London is geographically big and still has lots of main A-roads where people have to make progress. If some main roads end up with 20mph limits, people will ignore it and this could bring other 20mph zones into disrepute. They should only be introduced on a road by road basis."
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